Two-minute read.
Jesus uses the vine and the branch to illustrate His point. Palestinian life understood the connection from their agricultural lifestyle. For a vineyard to produce luscious grapes, the branch must abide in the vine, receiving nutrients from it that cause fruit to grow. In the same way, we must abide in Christ to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Just like the branch can’t thrive without the vine, we can’t thrive without a connection to Jesus. From the Lord, we receive the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, guiding our words and actions. The more we abide in Christ, the more attentive we become to His Spirit, and the more fruit we produce.
Our ongoing relationship with the Savior helps us remain in Him. By prioritizing time with the Lord, we will receive the nourishment we need to fulfill His purpose for our lives. As we apply God’s teachings to our daily activities, His words will shape our thoughts, and our desires will become His desires. When these two things happen, our life shifts, our prayers change, not because God bends to our will, but because we allow Jesus to form our will.
Abiding in Christ, our hearts become aligned with His, and we begin praying for what He already longs to accomplish. Prayer becomes a partnership with Him, not a form of persuasion. Already, since I began writing this six-week devotional, my prayers have begun to change. I’m thinking about what the Lord wants and desiring it as well. I know God wants none to perish, and all to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Every person I meet, the Lord loves. As C.S. Lewis says in The Weight of Glory:
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.”
Everyone has an immortal soul, one that God created to love. As we begin to see others through His eyes, we will want them to know Jesus. And if they do know the Savior, we’ll desire for them to grow in their relationship with Him and experience the abundant life He offers in this world, and the glory that comes in the next.
We must abide in Christ to fulfill His will for our lives, produce spiritual fruit, and live the abundant life He died to give us. Only when we stay firmly rooted in the Savior will we experience life to the fullest, align our hearts with His, and discover the purpose He has for our lives. Abide in Christ and let Him guide your life.
Journal Questions:
Am I abiding, or just asking?
What does remaining in Christ look like practically?
How can I create a firmer attachment to Jesus today?
Application:
Sit quietly with Scripture before bringing requests.
