Abide

Abide

by: Belinda Keller

“Abide in me, and I in you.” John 15:4

“Abide in me, and I in you.” John 15:4
January came and I read this passage. The concept of abiding grabbed my attention. I realized that I was good at trying to bear fruit, but not at abiding. I felt led to choose this word as my focus for the year. I didn’t know what it would hold. I’m beginning to see now.
I wrote it in my journal. I posted it at my kitchen sink.
The questions came to me and I pondered.
I peppered my friends with them. Wanting to know –
Can I bear true fruit if I’m not abiding?
Is it possible to think I’m bearing fruit but really not be?
Can I get so distracted trying to “do” the fruit thing that I forget to “be” connected?
What does it mean to abide?
Will I face doubt and anxiety and fear if I am abiding?
“…He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:” v.5
It is a promise. Clear and concise. I like that. It gives me peace.
But still the question of abiding…
I realize again how stuck I am on doing. Can abiding be something I do?
An action to check off or a posture of my heart?
If it is the posture of my heart, then it means where I turn every day for –
direction,
grace,
peace,
rest.
I believe abiding means that even when anxiety and doubt raise their ugly heads and grip me in their grasp, I can turn my heart towards my Father and find rest in His truth.
It means that I still have purpose and value when the doing is stripped away because abiding comes first. Circumstances can hinder me from bearing fruit like I think I should, but abiding cannot be taken away with sickness or anything else.
I can always choose to turn towards the Vine – even if all I can muster is a feeble “Jesus, I need you. I will trust you.”
I can choose to believe the promises even when I don’t feel them.
Abiding means I will bear fruit (v.5).
Abiding means His words abide in me (v. 7).
Abiding means I can know that He will hear and answer my requests (v. 7).
Abiding means I will glorify my Father (v. 8).
Abiding means I keep the Father’s commandments (v. 10).
“…every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (v. 2)
Abiding does not mean that I will not be purged (v. 2).
Then the question comes –
What is purging?
I believe purging is different from being cut off. Purging is what happens to the branch that IS bearing fruit.
But does purging mean taking away the bad only?
Does He ever take away good fruit?
I believe He does. Just look again at verse 2.
The one that has good fruit gets purged. Why?
To bring forth more fruit.
So sometimes He asks me to let go of the good and takes it away so that His best can come?
Yes.
And it is excruciating because it was good.
I wanted that fruit. I thought it was worth keeping.
It’s hard to see how something better can come.
I know.
It’s early spring right now.
The purging is fresh and my soul feels barren.
Naked.
Fruitless.
Stripped of all I had put my energy into and thought was good.
It was good. At least, it was fruit.
Can I still abide in Him even in this?
“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

”Thank you Belinda for sharing this with me, and allowing me to share it with others! It was a blessing and encouragement. May Jesus continue to be close to you.” – Damarus