John 15
King James Version (KJV)
John 15
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Leviticus 17 :11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
We have our new life in Christ because of Jesus’ shed blood for us. We have spiritual life because Jesus paid the price for us to have eternal life. Man was commanded not to eat or drink the blood of any creature, because the life of a creature is in the blood.
The trunk of a tree or the main body of a vine carries all the nutrients of that plant. The life of the plant is in the nutrient fluid that runs through the core of that plant. Branches carry these nutrients – but if they are cut off from the main plant, they will wither and die.
Our identity in Christ is the core of our being. Our connection with Christ is essential for spiritual life and growth. We must be abiding in Christ to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Abiding is not something we do because we have to. It is the joy and flourishing of a LOVE relationship with God. Because He loves us so tremendously, higher, wider, deeper, greater than we can conceptualize or imagine, we are compelled to love Him in return.
In fact it is only through the love of God released in us that we can truly love Him in response. It is only through His love in us and flowing through us that we can truly love others as ourselves. The secret of abiding is that we wholly submit spirit, soul and body to God each and every day, all throughout the day. When the Apostle Paul said “Pray without ceasing”, it was not just figurative. It was not just a bunch of words. He was giving us a key to a successful life. Prayer and communion with God – abiding in His presence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is necessary for us to live successful Christian lives. Abiding in Him means living our lives with the awareness of living before God – openly living in light of eternity. By inviting Him into our lives to commune with us 24/7, we tap into the source of our lives. Jesus is the vine. We are the branches. We can only bear fruit if we abide in the vine.
PRAYER
LORD help me to abide in your presence. Come Holy Spirit. Breath on me and fill me with You. Come flow in me and through me. Reveal your love to me for me. Let me catch a glimpse of the ocean of your love so that I might be compelled to love you more. Release the love of God in my heart for you. I want to love you with all my being. Come fill me. Come love in me and through me. Let me dwell in your presence, living my life abiding in You. Amen.
