Carl Pollard
In Deuteronomy 32, Moses presented a song to Israel, a powerful reminder of God’s justice, power, and mercy, urging the nation to live faithfully to receive His promises. After the song, Moses declared in verse 47, “These words aren’t just empty words, they are your life.” Today, every opportunity to worship and study God’s Word offers us not just empty stories but the words of life. In John 15:1-8, Jesus teaches a powerful message about connection, urging us to “abide” in Him. The word “abide” appears repeatedly in this passage, emphasizing the need to remain connected to Jesus, especially as He spoke these words during the Last Supper, preparing His apostles for a world about to be turned upside down.
Jesus illustrates this connection by calling Himself the True Vine, a familiar image to Israel, where a branch relies on the vine for water and nutrients. Similarly, we must stay connected to Jesus, our source of life. This is His seventh and final “I AM” statement in John, underscoring its significance. Without this vital connection, we face eternal consequences. Jesus warns in John 15:4, “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” An independent branch withers and dies, just as a soul disconnected from Christ becomes fruitless and spiritually dead. Jesus emphasizes in verse 5, “for apart from me you can do nothing.” A fruitless branch is cut off (verse 2) and thrown away (verse 6). Without Jesus, we cannot fulfill our purpose—to bear fruit that glorifies God.
But on the flip side, abiding in Jesus leads to a fruitful life. John 15:5 promises, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” This connection transforms our prayers, aligning our desires with God’s will (verse 7). By bearing fruit, we glorify God and prove to be His disciples (verse 8). Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, transforming even mundane moments into eternal significance. Three things endure forever: God, His Word, and human souls. By abiding in Jesus, we invest in eternity.
So, how do we abide? First, meditate on His Word. Personalize Scripture to move it from head to heart. Second, obey His commands, particularly to “love one another” (verse 12). Third, pray continuously about everything, maintaining a constant conversation with Jesus. Finally, rest in His love, as He assures us in verse 9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
Abiding in Jesus, the True Vine, brings life, fruitfulness, and joy while glorifying God. As Colossians 3:4 declares, “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Are you connected to the Vine? If not, now is the time to put your faith in Him, obey the gospel, and live for Jesus!
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