Sept 22 Devotion: Abiding in the Lord

1).  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  2).  Every 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.  3).  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  4).  Abide 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.  5).  I 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.

                                 JOHN 15:1-5 (KJV)

We cannot impress God or earn His approval. Our calling is to do what branches do: abide. And while that sounds simple, it may be the most courageous act of faith there is.

The Holy Spirit lives the life of Christ through each believer. This process is known by a variety of names—the exchanged life, the Spirit-filled life, the abiding life. All of them describe the joyful existence Paul spoke of (SEE Galatians 2:20).

From the outside, a branch doesn’t appear to be doing much. But the abiding life is far from passive. Jesus was the perfect example of a Spirit-filled life, and He certainly didn’t sit around. He worked hard out of a reservoir of divine energy (SEE John 14:10).   All of Christ’s wisdom, knowledge, and courage were drawn from God through the Holy Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit isn’t produced through striving; it grows through surrender. We take root in the heavenly Father by meditating on His Word, praying, and serving. We reserve nothing for ourselves to control but fully rely upon Him. 

That’s not passive living; it’s an abiding life.

-IBC