John 15 | Joy

December 15th, John 15

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5

Abiding precedes fruit. I fear many of us think “I must do better, clean my act up, remove sin in my life before I can go to God.” But here God is reminding us of the order, and this has profound implications for how we think about the Christian life.

It is in abiding with Jesus, spending time with Him, praying to Him, learning from Him in the Word, meditating on who He was and is. In those things, we are changed in such a way that produces fruit within us. Just as a tree produces fruit based on where it’s roots are drawing nutrients from, so it is with us spiritually.

Abiding cannot be rushed. I didn’t say it had to be done for hours, although sometimes perhaps it should. But it cannot be rushed. You can abide for 8 minutes and not be rushed. You can spend 45 minutes with your Bible open and do nothing spiritually meaningful.

Joy

So often we feel that the ways of God our counter-productive to joy. “Keeping God’s word is such loss” or “Choosing to read my bible instead of watch TV feels less fun.” But notice what Jesus says right after talking about abiding and producing fruit: “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (v10)

Abiding and obedience lead to more joy, not less.

Reflective Question:

How do you need to restructure your daily routine to more meaningfully abide with God?