Living Abundantly

 

JUNE 17, 2024

John 15:4

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.”

I wonder have you ever noticed the ways creation teaches important spiritual principles? Romans 1:20 says, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” Job 12:7-9 says, “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” Throughout the Gospels, Jesus compares spiritual principles to the surrounding creation. From the parables of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) and pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46) to his teaching on the grass of the field and birds of the air (Matthew 6:25-34), Jesus uses the observeable creation to illustrate spiritual principles we need to embrace as followers.

Today, we note the important principle found in John 15:1-17. In verse 4 Jesus says, “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.” We are asked in this scripture reading to reflect on the process of a vine bearing fruit. It takes time, patience, and consistent nourishment for fruit to form on the branches of the vine. That is the way it is with you and me in our relationship with God. After all, the most abundant source of life is available to us through our Creator. God patiently invites us to live in such intimate connection with him that the life of abundance may be developed in us.

We know that fruit that is cut off from the vine loses its source of life. The spiritual principle in this is that this means there is only one way to produce the "fruit" of God in our lives, we must "abide in the vine", take in the abundant life that God desires to give us.

God is our one, true source. There is no other way by we can experience abundant life outside of abiding in him. "The days we try and bear fruit apart from him are the days we will be overrun with the cares and stresses of this life." Today let us make the time and space to listen and receive all that God has for us. Let us do what James 4:8 instructs, “Draw near to God," and experience the promise that "he will draw near to" us.

May we all find our delight in the reality of God's abundant life by abiding in the true vine.