Jn 15:4
“Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.”
In order to enjoy the blessings of “I in you,” I as a branch of the true Vine, must abide in Him- Christ. The possibilities or potentials of ‘I in you’ are enormous; we only need to look at the Apostles to see what Christ is able to do in those who He works in. But the great condition for this to be a reality is “Abide in Me.”
“Abide in Me” as a command is to be received and obeyed. The heart must embrace it totally as the only way, in union with Christ, to fulfil the purpose of being grafted into Christ. The reason for being branches is to bear fruits, even much fruit. But unless we abide in Him, there is no chance of serving this purpose well.
“Abide in Me” on the one hand is the effort I must make to reach out to Him; stretch and lean towards Him; be occupied with Him, seeking and depending on Him. It is my way of saying “I need you; without you I can do nothing.” It is the expression of my total reliance on Him which makes me to pant after Him.
On the other hand, it is the putting aside of all other things that will hinder me from achieving the goal of “I in you.” The first is reaching out to Him; the second is about dealing with the external things that would hinder. In doing this, I must deny self and the world; I must cut away certain unnecessary activities; reclaim what time-thieves have stolen in order to concentrate on Him. All these so that I may Abide in Him.
“Abide in Me” is to be occupied with Him alone. He becomes my occupation and profession. All things are done within His acceptable requirements in order that it might serve His purpose. No thought, a word or deed is done but that it should be well pleasing to Him and glorifies Him. It is becoming a willing slave of the Lord to be used as He pleases. This is the way and the state the branch must be in order to fulfill its purpose for existence.
Though this may not be natural to the best of men and the height unattainable by human strength; even the earnest of disciples may falter in attaining to this standard, yet by the help of the Holy Spirit and Christ strengthening, I can do this. That Christ will become the sole desire and aim of my life; that Christ will be the source of all I do and the power behind such deeds; that Christ will be my profession and the one I minister to others. This really is my desire: to honour Christ by bearing fruits that are conformable to Him. For this I ask the Father to help me and grant that by the Holy Spirit I may be carried forward in this way, not just for a season, but at all times. Lord hear me and let the answer to this prayer be evident soon enough. Amen.