Abiding

7 February 2024

This morning my Scripture reading was John 15. Jesus here discusses how he is the true vine, the Father is the vinedresser, and we are the grafted in, fruit-producing branches. If I am honest, this passage has never gripped and wooed me the way that some have experienced it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great verse, but I believe my less than enthusiastic view of it is because I often feel it is explained in a passive sense. “All you need to do is abide in Jesus,” or “Just sit back and be with Jesus by abiding in him.” I don’t think that these types of comments are wrong, and as someone who is hyperactive most of the time, they are words I need to hear and put into practice. However, as I read this morning, I saw something in the passage I hadn’t before. Doubtless others have had similar ideas and spoken or written on this, but for me it was a first. The truth is much of the language in John 15 is active. Jesus talks about growing, bearing fruit, obeying commands, and boldly asking the Father for things. The branch does not sit passively by, but actively seeks to be a fruit bearer.

As someone who likes to learn and is constantly thinking about how I can grow as an individual, this type of language is great. I want to bear fruit! The danger comes in not recognizing the source of strength and nourishment. Abiding in Christ means recognizing that growth and fruit do not come by being a lone branch. Being a grafted in branch means that we draw from Him – the true vine. Without the true vine the Christian is likened to a pruned limb that, though it may thrive for a short time on its own, will ultimately wither. But for those who are in Christ, through the Spirit of God the nutrients of the True Vine flow into us and provide all that we need for obedience, growth, and right prayer to the Father who answers. Abiding is actively drawing on all the richness of Christ to live a life that is pleasing to Him and beneficial to others. A life that bears much fruit. It is that type of abiding that makes me excited and motivates me toward growth.

However, as I think over the past few months, this is not descriptive of the type of life I have been living. I have been in a season of life that has not seemed to bear much outward fruit but has been marked by personal growth and intimacy with my Savior. I recognize that those passive interpretations of abiding have been the most important moments for me lately. If you’ll allow me, I’ll share the analogy that came to mind as I was working this out in my head. In horticultural, dormancy is a natural occurrence and is extremely beneficial for a plant. As Winter approaches those branches that flower in Spring turn away from outward production and focus on strengthening the roots that will sustain them through the cold months. They may look brittle and weak, but what is happening under the surface will prove beneficial when the warm months return.

Just like plants, we all have seasons in our lives. Some where the rich nourishment of the Savior bursts from us and produces growth, obedience, and boldness. At other times dormancy is exactly what we need. We can be okay turning inward and allowing Christ, the Vine, to quietly work in us and prepare us for the next season where, with strengthened branch, we will produce even greater fruit.