John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Years ago, I used to keep an index card at my desk that said, “Abide in Christ.” It was a reminder that I needed to stay rooted and grounded in Christ throughout my day. I feel like I do a pretty fair job of that in the mornings with my coffee and my daily Bible study, but the world’s pull is so strong during the day it’s easy to get sidetracked.
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
However, my reading this morning reminds me that abiding in Christ means keeping His commandments, chief of which is to love one another as He loves us—fiercely completely, sacrificially, without reservations. I’m not perfect at that by any means, but I definitely think my capacity to love others and my love of others have both increased over the years.
John 15:10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
Lord, I want more than anything to abide in You and keep Your commandments. Thank You for the understanding that maybe I’m on the right path, even though I end up in the ditch sometimes. Help me to abide in You every second of every day. Help me to love Your people, all Your people, as You love me and them—fiercely completely, sacrificially, without reservations. Amen.
John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Have a blessed day.