Abide in Me

As many of you know, Nathan and I have been so blessed by our church family here in Biloxi. It's hard to believe we only have three more Sundays to worship with them. We are treasuring every minute we have left.

Last Sunday, Pastor Joe powerfully preached this sermon from John 15:1-8, a passage familiar to most of us. "Bearing fruit," Pastor Joe explained, "is a desire in the heart of every true believer." We all desire to be fruitful in our walk with Christ. Yet very few of us are satisfied with the fruit in our own lives and in the lives of our friends, children, co-workers, and church members. We often become discouraged, because, though we invest our time, our money, our love into the lives of those we love, we hardly see any fruit.

Pastor Joe so graciously reminded us that our Father, the vinedresser, is just as sovereign over our fruit-bearing as He is over our salvation. We can try harder, disciple more, strategize differently, but in the end God requires just two things of us in order that we might bear fruit. First, we must abide in Him. John 15:5 says, "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." Second, we must ask of Him. John 15:7 says, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

These words were freedom to me; how they can simplify my Christian life! I must abide in Christ, allowing His word to provide nourishment, security, hope and help to my soul. And, I must pray for fruitfulness. When I do these two things, He will be so faithful to bear fruit in my life and in the lives of those around me.

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."

John 15:8