John 15
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NKJV
Jesus tells us that the key to living a productive, fruit-filled life is to remain in Him. In other translations of the Bible, the word “abide” is used instead of remain. How important is it to remain or abide in Jesus? Jesus uses the word remain/abide 11 times in the first 10 verses of Chapter 15. Repetition in the Bible means that it is really important! So what does it mean to remain or abide in Jesus? Here is an acronym to help us all understand what it means to abide:
-A = Associate, affiliate or align yourself with God and Jesus. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:9 that: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Surround yourself with people that support you in your faith, and make sure to get involved with a church community where you can learn and grow as you continue in your Christian walk. Nurturing your relationship with God and staying connected to Him through prayer, worship, and studying God’s Word will further help you to stay focused on the path that God wants for you.
-B = Break free from sinful behaviors. “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18). Note that this scripture is in the past tense. Once we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we were set free from the bondage of sin. This doesn’t mean that we will never sin again, but it does mean that we now have the power of the Holy Spirit within us to guide us, strengthen us, and help us overcome our sinful tendencies.
-I = Identify with your Master, your Lord and Savior. For all of us who have made the decision to give our lives to Jesus and to fully trust Him, our lives have been changed forever. He becomes a part of us, just as we become a part of Him. “But whoever is united with the Lord is one with Him in spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). Understanding and accepting our holy identity affects every aspect of our lives. Make sure that your life is a reflection of Jesus, who is in you!
-D = Depend on God for everything. This dependence must stem from humility – where you understand who He is and who you are in relation to Him. No matter how successful you are, how skilled you are, how much money you have, or how popular you are, there is no room for pride because it all comes back to the fact that God is the One who gave it to you. Knowing that He is in control will bring you back to Him in prayer and praise no matter what is going on in your life. “Not to us, LORD, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness” (Psalm 115:1).
-E = Enjoy the journey. God does not want us to struggle through life, always waiting for something in the future to happen that will make us content and happy. Living life this way will make us miss out on so many awesome, everyday moments. He wants us to enjoy what is happening right here, right now! “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). The fact is that we have the choice whether or not we want to enjoy our lives. Here are a few keys to unlocking joy and happiness in your life:
-Expect daily hassles and understand that they will not last. They are an unfortunate part of life, but are not something to dwell on.
-Change the things you can change and accept the things you cannot (preferably without complaining).
-When there is a problem, focus on progress made in that area rather than focusing on the problem.
-Surround yourself with people who encourage you and bring out the best in you.
-Cultivate gratitude and thankfulness for all that God has given you.
-Enjoy the simple, everyday pleasures in life rather than waiting for some big event in the future.
-Be content with what you have and the season of life that you are currently in.
-Be patient with God, with yourself, and with others.
-Do things for other people to make their lives better without expecting anything in return.
-Apologize when you have done something wrong.
-Forgive those who hurt you.
-Get rid of anger and resentment and any other negative emotions.
-Hold on to the hope that is found in Jesus, and the promise of eternal life.
-Live your life with purpose and meaning.
-And above all, put God in the center of everything you do in life.
In addition to being able to live a joyful, content life, following this list will also ensure that your spirit remains healthy. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:14-15 NKJV Jesus, the Creator of the universe, the Everlasting One, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the World calls us His friends! To begin to understand how significant this is, we can examine Jesus’ friendship with Peter. Peter was one of the privileged people of Jesus’ inner circle while He walked the earth. Along with James and John, Peter was there to personally witness: Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead (see Mark 5:37-42), the Transfiguration (see Mark 9:2-10), and the agonizing pain that Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Mark 14:32-33). So what can we learn from their friendship that will help our relationship with Jesus grow stronger and develop into something more meaningful?
1. Being friends with Jesus means allowing yourself to be defined and changed by Him. In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus has an interaction with Peter that leads to Jesus giving him a new name, and a new direction for his life: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). Genuine friends help to shape and encourage each other as they grow. Jesus wants to do that for each and every one of us. How has Jesus shaped your life?
2. You will become strengthened and gain courage by being friends with Jesus. Matthew 17:6-7 describes this happening to Peter, James, and John after the Transfiguration: “When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. ‘Get up,’ He said. ‘Don’t be afraid.’” As we get to know and trust Jesus more intimately, He will reveal Himself more and will have higher expectations for us. He may take us in unexpected directions or lead us to do things that we thought were beyond our capability. This can be intimidating and scary. Have faith that He will provide what you need and will lead the way in whatever He asks you to do.
3. Jesus is someone who truly understands our struggles and temptations. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet He did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). While Jesus walked the earth, He was as fully human as He was divine. His earthly experiences and relationships allow Him to be able to relate to us and the problems we face in life. After Jesus’ resurrection, He made a point to return to the disheartened Peter to personally reinstate Him as a leader for the early church. (See John 21:15-19). Jesus knew what Peter needed to motivate him and get him back on track. Jesus is not surprised by the mistakes we make. He knows and understands all of our weaknesses, and will always be our Friend in spite of them. He knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and will always be there for us.
4. Jesus will always forgive you. You will never be outside of the reach of Jesus because of your failures and shortcomings. Peter denied his association with Jesus three times (see Luke 22:54-62), the very same night that he told Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Although Jesus must have been hurt and disappointed, His love for Peter never wavered. After His resurrection, Jesus came back to talk to Peter, offer His forgiveness, and to restore their relationship.
What an incredible feeling to know that this same friendship is offered to every one of us that chooses to accept it! Hallelujah!