John 15:4 NKJV
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Jesus uses the illustration of a vine and it’s branches to explain the importance of our relationship with him. He is the vine and we are the branches and he continues to inform us that we cannot bear fruit of ourselves unless we abide in him.
The Greek word for abide is the word “Meno” and it means to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy. It is to continually dwell, to be present to endure to tarry.
A true disciple of Christ is one who continually remains connected to him no matter what. Take note that Jesus the vine never detaches himself from the branches rather it is us the branches who detach ourselves from him.
To be connected to him means to continually depend on him in everything because when we disconnect we cannot bear godly fruit.
In fact the result of abiding in him is that we will bear godly fruit each time every time.
So how do I know that I am connected to him? Simple, look at the kind of fruit that you are bearing. He says that he who bears fruit will be pruned so they can bear more fruit but he who does not bear fruit will be cut off.
One way or the other you will be cut, it is best to be cut (pruned) so that you can bear much fruit as opposed to being cut off. The choice is our to make, stay connected.
What does staying connected the vine look like to you on a day to day basis? What do you think a season for pruning looks like for a believer? What kind of fruit are you bearing in your life?
