What Does it Mean to Abide in Christ?

 What Does it Mean to Abide in Christ?

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 (Joh 15:4 KJV).

Jesus used a simple comparison to illustrate how a believer may be fruitful: just as a fruit grows by the nourishment supplied through the vine, so a believer grows through the nourishment of Christ.

If you break a branch off from the main vine, the fruit will soon wither. This is also true for a believer who disconnects from the means of grace available to them.

Two really important means of grace should not be ignored: the study of God’s Word and prayer. Imagine your heart and mind as a warehouse in which you store God’s Word. If the warehouse is full, then the Holy Spirit has ample supply to feed your soul for every situation. However, if the warehouse is empty, you will find yourself ill-prepared to ward off the darts of the enemy. Temptations may not be recognized, dryness will set in, and joy will be fleeting.

Of course, academic knowledge without the Spirit is just knowledge. Knowledge employed by faith is what feeds the soul. The catalyst that fuses these is prayer.

I love the hymn by C. Austin Miles, In The Garden. He captures this idea of the Word and prayer working together. Here is the first verse and two of the refrains:

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing. (Hymnary.org) [Baptist Hymnal, 1991]

Brothers and Sisters go into the garden frequently. Dive into the richness of God’s Word, listen closely for His voice, and watch your spirit flourish in the process! Amen.