Today's Scripture
A Secure Grip – John 15:4-8
4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
RJ's Devotion
What the passage says
V. 4-5 Jesus says, abide in me to bear fruit
V. 6 The consequence of not abiding in Jesus sounds harsh
V. 7-8 Then Jesus says, if you abide in me, whatever we wish will be done.
What does the passage say to me/us?
“Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Revelation 3:20, NRSV)
‘Immanuel’ means Christ with us. When Christ in invited in our life, not only that Christ lives in us, but also we live in Christ.
When Jesus tells his followers to abide in him, he is inviting God’s people to recover the intent of Creation. When God created the world, God created humans so God can bless them to multiply and be fruitful (Genesis 1:22). Abiding in Jesus is recovering the purpose of Creation, through discovering the purpose of bearing fruit in Christ.
The consequences of not abiding in Christ can sound harsh; “Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (v. 6). However, what if we understand this verse this way? If Jesus said that abiding in him is the way to discover our purpose to bear fruits, wouldn’t it mean that apart from him, we are lost of our purpose? When we live a life away from our purpose, wouldn’t our lives slowly wither? Wouldn’t it die itself?
Then Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (v.7). Some people misinterpret this verse and see it as verse to get my way done. Some pastors even mislead its followers by saying, ‘abide in him (meaning be in prayer), and see how God delivers.’ I even hear a pastor say, ‘put a picture of what you want and continue to abide in Him in prayer. See how God delivers.’ THIS IS ABSURD!!
Remember how the verse starts. Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you,” meaning when our thoughts and will ultimately align with God. When we reach a state where my will is completely diminished, and God’s will fully reign in our life. Where we are in full alignment with God’s will, and it becomes our will, Jesus says our wishes will be fulfilled. Why? At that stage, our wish only focuses on glorifying God, not our life. I believe this is the real goal to abide in Christ.
As we remember Christ’s service to the world, on this Maundy Thursday, would you ask yourself this question?
‘Do I live in Christ?’ or ‘Does Christ live in me?
Prayer
Lord, we invite you to reign in our lives. Help us to abide in you and be fruitful.
In Christ’s name, we pray, AMEN
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