Devotional: Abide in Christ: John 15:1-11

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me” (Jn. 15:4, NASB).

Growing up on the farm I learned two things about plant life. First, life is given when a seed is planted in good soil and sustained by water. The growing plant must also have the right environment if life is to be maintained. Jesus uses the imagery of the vine to teach us how we are to maintain our fruitfulness in Him.

Jesus is the vine. His disciples are the branches that are connected to Him. If the branch is not properly taken care of (pruned) it will die. The branch that dies is thrown away. The branch that is pruned is able to bear fruit. To be pruned is to be lifted up out of the mud so that the branch can live. All branches live only if they abide in the vine. This is because the branches receive their water and nutrients from the vine. Those branches that do not receive water and life giving nutrients dry up and die. They are thrown into the fire to be burned up.

Jesus is the vine. You and I are branches. We cannot survive without Jesus. He sustains us by His words and His Spirit. His Spirit is life giving water. His words are the nutrients that we require to maintain life and produce new fruit. We can neither survive nor produce fruit unless we abide in Christ.

Prayer: Jesus we want to continue our life with You so that we produce fruit. Amen.