“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV

…abide is used as it is defined at the first intransitive sense: “to remain stable or fixed in a state.” In the phrase “abide in me,” Jesus is asking his followers to stay constant in their relationship to him.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abide

Abide – Remain. Many translations use the word remain. Jesus telling us to remain in Him evokes the feeling of a challenge, whereas abide, to me, evokes the feeling of making my home in Him. I know it’s just semantics, but I love the feeling of home.

How can I do that? How do I make Jesus my home? Abiding in His love is to love others. How do I do that? By letting in His love for me.

Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. We love, because He first loved us. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.

1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭15‬-‭16‬, ‭19‬, ‭21‬ ‭AMP‬‬

When we live in His love, understanding every aspect, like how God can love a sinner like me, we can see past the sins of others and love them the way Jesus did. By loving others in this way, His joy fills us and we produce the fruit He desires.

Jesus is like a couch and a car and love is like fire in the fireplace and fuel in the tank. So whether you’re cuddled up, basking in His love, or fueled by His love on the journey, you can remain and abide in Him.

Today is an abiding couch kind of day for me. I want to feel the love of God for me and quiet the voices that tell me otherwise. What kind of day is it for you? Couch or car?

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

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