05. To Abide

One of the loveliest pictures Jesus painted is the one where he speaks of his Father as the gardener, himself as the vine, and us as the branches on the vine. He says, "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" (John 15:5). 

The fruit we are required to bear is "the fruit of the Spirit (which) is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). But just as branches cannot bear fruit unless they are connected to the vine, we cannot bear fruit unless we are connected to Jesus through an ongoing relationship. 

So do we remain connected to Jesus, or as Scripture puts it, abide or remain in him? Here are five pointers.

One: Read and study the Bible. Scripture, especially the Gospels, contains the teachings and principles of Jesus, in addition to giving us glimpses of his life. We cannot be connected to somebody we don't know and trust. Reading the Bible will help us get to know and trust Jesus. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples" (John 8:31).

Two: Pray. Prayer will help us get to know Jesus even better and trust him more. When we spend time alone with him, seeking his face, he will reveal himself to us (see Matthew 6:6-7). As the relationship deepens, the bonding will increase until we reach a point where we are inseparable.

Three: Obey his teachings. Jesus' teachings are not only to be read and studied but also to be lived out. When we obey his teachings, we demonstrate our love for him and our desire to be united with him. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). We cannot do this by our own efforts, which is why Jesus added, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever" (John 14:16).

Four: Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our helper, guide, and comforter. Jesus said, "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26). He will remind us of the things that Jesus said to ensure we remain entwined with him.

Five: Fellowship with other believers. Fellowship with other believers is essential for our spiritual growth because we are part of a body of which Christ is the head (see Ephesians 1:22-23). When we gather with other believers, we can encourage one another and strengthen our relationship with Jesus.

As you can see, not hard when you know how!

God bless you. 

More in this category: « 03. Humility 06. To Wait »
Click here for the extended "LIVE" versions: 1. Abundant Life
2. Perseverance
3. Humility
4. Rest
5. To Abide
6. To Wait
7. To Look Ahead
8. Light
9. Grace
10. Contentment
11. Love
12. Repentance
13. To Forgive
14. To Surrender
15. Joy
16. Faith
17. Discipline
18. Hope
19. Freedom
20. Gratitude
21. To Listen
22. Truth
23. Peace
24. Encouragement
25. To Imitate Christ
26. Friendship
27. Unity
28. To Remember
29. Conversion
30. Generosity
31. Revival
32. Integrity
33. Excellence
34. To Serve
35. Tongue Control
36. Courage
37. Wisdom
38. Purity
39. Stewardship
40. To Evangelize
Choice 01 — I Choose Abundant Life
Choice 01 — I Choose Abundant Life
Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
We begin our series on *40 Choices* we will make during Read More
Choice 02: I Choose Perseverance
Choice 02: I Choose Perseverance
We continue our series on #40Choices we will make during this season by choosing *Perseverance*. Please share the video and bless others.
Transcript
One day Jesus told his disciples a parable to sho Read More
Choice 03: I Choose Humility
Choice 03: I Choose Humility
We continue our series on *40 Choices* we will make during this season by choosing *Humility*. Please share the video and bless others.
Transcript
One day when Jesus was dining with a group of Phari Read More
Choice 04: I Choose Rest
Choice 04: I Choose Rest
We choose *Rest* today in our series on *40Choices*. Please share the video and bless others.
To watch the *expanded “live” versions* of these reflections, please visit https://bit.ly/hsihouseofpraye Read More
Choice 05: I Choose to Abide
Choice 05: I Choose to Abide
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose *to Abide* in Jesus Christ. To watch *expanded 30-minute live versions* of these reflections, please visit https://bit.ly/hsihouseofprayer.
Choice 06: I Choose to Wait
Choice 06: I Choose to Wait
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose to *Wait*. Please share the video and bless others.
To watch *expanded 30-minute live versions* of these reflections, please visit https://bit.ly/hsih Read More
Choice 07: I Choose to Look Ahead
Choice 07: I Choose to Look Ahead
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose to *Look Ahead* in Jesus Christ. Please share the video and bless others. 
To watch an *expanded 30-minute live version* of this reflection, please vis Read More
Choice 08: I Choose Light
Choice 08: I Choose Light
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose *Light*. Please share the video and bless others. 
To watch an *expanded 30-minute version* of this reflection, please visit https://bit.ly/hsihouseofp Read More
Choice 09: I Choose Grace
Choice 09: I Choose Grace
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose *Grace*. Please share the video and bless others. 
To watch an *expanded 30-minute version* of this reflection, please visit https://bit.ly/hsihouseofp Read More
Choice 10: I Choose Contentment
Choice 10: I Choose Contentment
Today, in our series on *40 Choices*, we choose *Contentment*. Please share the video and bless others. 
To watch an *expanded 30-minute version* of this reflection, please visit https://bit.ly/hsiho Read More

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