“Abide in Me, and I in you.”
JESUS said—
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
(The Gospel According to John 15: 3 NASB)
As the darkness filled the early morning night-like sky, the words of Jesus spoke to me. I began reading about the scattering of the Gospel seed and the bounty that God is able to produce as the seed falls onto the ready soil. Then as the morning unfolded, the Holy Spirit took me to chapter 15, where JESUS spoke to His disciples about the importance of “abiding in Him.”
JESUS said—
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
(The Gospel According to John 15: 3-7 NASB)
Abide in Me,
and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine,
so neither can you unless you abide in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches;
he who abides in Me and I in him,
he bears much fruit,
for apart from Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me,
he is thrown away as a branch and dries up;
they gather them,
and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
If you abide in Me,
and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
These are the words of JESUS, so naturally, all of HIS words are printed in RED; to slow down our reading, I have underlined certain statements. Please pause to re-read the words of JESUS, absorbing the Word of God.
The word “abide” found within this Scripture means to reside IN—JESUS, to remain IN—JESUS, to make our home IN—JESUS. When we accept the forgiveness found IN—JESUS, then we become empowered through His Holy Spirit. As we do, we come home to JESUS and we are given the task to bear fruit. Nevertheless, we are only EVER able to be fruitful if we “abide in”—HIM, IN—JESUS!
- Apart from the true vine, we are dead.
- Apart from the true vine, we are useless.
- Apart from the true vine, we are thrown into the fire.
JESUS said—
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
(The Gospel According to John 15: 3 NASB)
What are we striving to accomplish by our own strength?
Abide in Me,
What are we fretting about, wringing our hands over, stressing about, losing sleep over each day?
Abide in Me,
Who are we praying for, constantly lifting to God in prayer?
Abide in Me,
Whatever or Whoever—Let us never forget the TRUTH our SAVIOR speaks!
“If you abide in Me,
(The Gospel According to John 15: 7 NASB)
and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”