+DEV+ Abiding Hearts

Date: December 3, 2012 12:22 AM
Topic: +DEV+  Abiding Hearts

Abiding Hearts

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  (John 15:5)
Scripture Focus: John 15:1-8

Abiding is a spiritually symbiotic attachment of our hearts, the branches, to Jesus, the heavenly Vine, and the power and life source to the branch. Our hearts or branches are secure in and protected by the Vine so nothing severs it. They are completely dependent on the Vine to produce leaves, much less fruit. Unless they receive nutrients every moment from the Vine, our hearts or branches are capable of nothing.

The word symbiosis implies a mutual benefit. What do we branches give back to the Vine? Our fruitfulness as disciples brings glory to both Jesus and His Father. The apostle Paul tells us that we were grafted into the Vine "to the praise of his glorious grace" (Ephesians 1:6a).

But the branch is passive. It just stays there and grows. Abiding in Jesus does not imply active striving. Abide means sit, dwell, remain - all words of calmness and passivity. Andrew Murray said, "Do not be occupied with abiding - be occupied with Christ." Sit with Jesus. Remain with Jesus. Dwell with Jesus.

Insight: Only One Heart's Devotion; Savior, O May It Be; Consecrated Alone To Thy Matchless Glory; Yielded Fully To Thee. (Avis B. Christiansen, Copyright Singspiration 1937)