Abiding Theology (John 15:1-16) 110607
I had a good rest last night and woke up feeling very refreshed and renewed. This what I had been longing for the past few weeks. It is really beneficial to have good rest and work less. This is how God had designed us and we need rest periodically. What I mean is good rest, whereby I will not engage in anything that will stress up my emotions or my mind.
I learned my resting theology from today’s passage. It is about Jesus teaching His disciples about the important to abide in Him (v4), in His Words (v7) and in His love (v10). And the result is clear if I abide in Christ, His word and His love, I will have a close relationship with God and will be able to enjoy Him by having a fruitful life (v16).
When I was growing up as a Christian, this passage made a deep impact in me. I remember that the word "abide" or "remain" appear so often in this passage that I am sure none of us can miss the point Jesus was trying to make. But the question we may have is: what does Jesus mean by "abide"?
The word "abide" or "remain" (depends on the which translation we use), appears about eleven times in this passage. It has a connotation of staying very close and not moving about. In another word, to abide is to keep still there and keep in contact with the other party. In the context, it is Christ, His words and His love that we are to keep still with and keep in contact with.
Actually, I would think that to abide in Christ means to abide in His words and love. That means, the word of God and the love of Jesus is the key and evidence of a person abiding in Christ. This passage is so plain in its analogy and teaching. A Christian who claims to be in Christ cannot run away from reading His words (the Bible) and His love (loving one another in practical ways)!
Have you been abiding in Christ lately? Or are moving everywhere to look for Christ? He is in His words and He is in the people you love. Sometimes, I wonder why Jesus used a vine-branch analogy to describe our relationship with Him? I think the answer can be found in verse 6. If we do not abide in Him, we will dry up and cast into fires. I don’t think this is a threat. This is reality. If we cut ourselves away from Christ (as in His word and loving His people), we will be dried up soon.
I always hear Christians telling me that they feel so dry in their Spiritual walk, but I also see that these are the people who exclude themselves from fellowship and too busy to study the word of God for refreshment. I also understand the demands of the world for us to meet up with, and I empathize with those who are struggling to find time to read the word of God. I had these struggles too, in the past and even now. I am still struggling to keep up my bible readings and quiet time in the midst of my studies and other ministries responsibilities. I have no formula to this struggle, but I just have to be very intentional and deliberate to fix a time to read the bible and pray and share God’s love with people around me.
It is painful though, just like a branch being pruned (v2), but at the end of the day, it can be fruitful and enjoyable. I must say this is not going to happen everyday or in a short period of time, but if we can persistence in it, we will bear much fruits (v5). And apart from Christ, we can do nothing (v5). Do you want to be fruitful for something or nothing? Just abide in Christ.
