Abide
February 17, 2015
Lee Chewning, Associate Pastor | Worship
Yesterday, we talked about the Father and His work in us as
the Vinedresser. Today, as branches, we look at the vine. The vine symbolizes
Christ, the one to whom we are attached when we are born again. When we belong
to Christ, we can have confidence that He has what we need to yield good fruit.
He says "Abide in Me, and I in you." When we find ourselves dwelling
in Him and clinging to Him, we can be fruitful. We will then begin to live
lives marked by fruit such as kindness, peace and joy. The key to bearing fruit
is not focusing on the fruit as much as it is on abiding in God and walking
with Him. When our focus is on the fruit we need to bear, we will naturally
strive to bear fruit in our own strength. If abiding in the love of Christ is
our focus, the natural byproduct is Christ producing fruit in us.
The idea of leaning on someone is counterintuitive to our
nature and our upbringing. We naturally think that happiness is found in self-reliance.
Abiding in Christ requires that we admit our need for his help and guidance.
Daily. Being that our hearts are tainted by sin, the need to direct ourselves
back to Christ is vital. When we do, we learn more and more how to truly abide,
each time bearing a little more fruit and we shine the light of hope just a
little farther into the darkness around us.
