Abide in Him

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:1-6 ESV)

Do you abide in Christ? What I mean is, are you a branch in the vine? Do you live attached to Christ, constantly seeking His guidance and following His teachings? Do you abide in the love of Christ, allowing His love to shape your actions and attitudes? Do you love Christ above all things, prioritizing your relationship with Him over everything else? Do you abide in the Words of Christ, living within the principles and values He has taught us? (John 8:31).

Our prayers are not just a routine, but a powerful way to reveal to God that we abide in Christ. When you pray, do you pray for people, yourself, things, and help from the Lord? Have you ever just prayed, thanking God for walking with you? Are you desperately thankful that God has not condemned you but has sanctified you through the blood of the Lamb? Do you cry out, Abba! I love you! These prayers are not just words, but a powerful expression of our relationship with Christ.

Yes, we repent through prayer, ask for help, and pray for others, but when we are consumed in Christ, we are overwhelmed and overcome with the joy of being a branch in the vine. This joy, the joy of Christ, flows through us when we abide in Christ. It's not just a duty, but a source of immense joy. Christ's joy flows to us by our justification and fills us because we are attached to Christ, not because we abide in Him. So, when we pray in thanks for inclusion into the family of God, we are abiding in Christ.

We recognize that our vocalizations of glorification, of your satisfaction in Christ, in the overshadowing of your imperfect essence handed down to us at the fall, and through the overtaking of the Spirit in your heart that pushes out our of sin through sanctification like water removing air from a glass. This transformation and sanctification is a powerful testament to the change that comes from abiding in Christ.

When you exclaim all these things in prayer, you express your understanding of your growth from iniquity to righteousness, your desperate, overjoyed thankfulness for your adoption, and your daily grace and mercy, flowing from that vine to the branch, reveal that you are genuinely in Christ.

All this is an exclamation to God through prayer that you abide in Him. It is an exclamation that you understand your depravity, are eternally grateful for your salvation, and are alone and isolated without Christ. God knows your heart, but God is most glorified when you recognize what Christ did for you vocally.

When all of these things are in your heart, and you abide in the vine, you will produce a blessed and holy fruit. Our expression of our being part of the vine, a part of Christ, especially in the presence of others, spouses, children, and family where we proclaim our salvation to others, expresses our love and devotion in Christ.

How do you pray? Pray as a part of the vine. Pray in exclamation of your joy in abiding in Christ. Tell Christ how much you love Him and are overwhelmingly grateful for His blood, mercy, and grace.

Grace and Peace.