"Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself: it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (John 15:4-8) Four times remain is mentioned in the first 3 sentences of this passage. Continuing through verse 8, remain is listed a total of 8 times. Would you agree with me that Jesus wants us to remain in him?
What happens if we don't remain in him? Think about what happens with the broken or cut branch from a tree. Without the source of life the tree provides, it withers and dies. It is no longer productive for shade or bearing fruit.
This is what happens to us when we do not remain in Christ, the source of our spiritual life and survival. As we spend less time in him and he in us, we wither and die and, no longer able to bear the fruit for God's glory, we cease to be functioning disciples.
The secret to remaining fruitful for our Lord then is simple. Read and study scripture, pray and meditate on the Word, spend quiet time in his presence and follow where he is leading, in full faith and trust. Remain (abide) in him and he will remain (abide in you). Stay connected to the vine, our life source, and remain fully alive.
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