Abide in Him

Hello Friends! I am excited to share this post with you on are theme this month, rest. When I thought of the theme for this month, John Chapter 15 came to mind. This passage has been coming up a lot in my life lately. My plate has been full these last few months and this passage has brought me so much encouragement. I hope that you find the same encouragement here today as I share about rest with you. So read on my friend...

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

I love this passage SO much! It is a great reminder of the vast love God has for me and for you. It is also a lesson. In this passage God tells us that when we abide in Him, he is able to take away the things in are lives that are unproductive and harmful. He does this for are good so that we can be more productive. In this passage God also warns us that without him we are useless, and are life is wasted. Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 15 states that "It is here intimated that there are many who pass for branches in Christ who yet do not bear fruit. Were they really united to Christ by faith, they would bear fruit; but being only tied to him by the thread of an outward profession, though they seem to be branches, they will soon be seen to be dry ones." and the passage states that "such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned".  This means that "It is here threatened that they shall be taken away, in justice to them and in kindness to the rest of the branches. From him that has not real union with Christ, and fruit produced thereby, shall be taken away even that which he seemed to have" or in other words, "Those that do not remain [in Christ] show that they never had a saving relationship with Christ. Their destiny is described with the language of damnation (cf. Matt. 3:12; 25:41; Jude 7; Rev. 20:14)" (Reformation Study Bible via Bible Gateway). 

The Second part of this passage is what I love most. In these verses Jesus tells us that he loves us just as much as God loves him. (Whoa! How crazy is that!) And then it goes on to say that Jesus calls us friends. What an amazing thought that the Son of God considers us friends. 

Yet, there is an important lesson still to learn here, and that is to abide in God. "If my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will of my Father in my name, and it shall be done. Matthew Henry's Commentary explains that "our union with Christ is maintained" through Scripture when we use it as our "constant guide and monitor". Thus, through scripture "we abide in Christ and he in us". The commentary also explains that "our communion with Christ is maintained through prayer". It states "Those that abide in Christ as their heart’s delight shall have, through Christ, their heart’s desire. If we have Christ, we shall want nothing that is good for us. Two things are implied in this promise:—First, That if we abide in Christ, and his word in us, we shall not ask any thing but what is proper to be done for us. The promises abiding in us lie ready to be turned into prayers; and the prayers so regulated cannot but speed. Secondly, That if we abide in Christ and his word we shall have such an interest in God’s favour and Christ’s mediation that we shall have an answer of peace to all our prayers." 

You see sisters, when we abide in Christ, we are able to bear good fruit and we are given peace. When we cultivate are relationship with God, we find true rest. This is the rest that allows us to"...glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans :3-5). 

Dear sisters, when you find yourself weary, go be alone with your savior, soak up his word, and pray. 

God will restore you.