"Abide in Me."

John 15:7-11, “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.”

Jesus tells gives us a vivid illustration, that we are like the branch on a grapevine and He is the vine that supplies the life for us to produce much fruit. We tend to get distracted thinking that we need to do things on our own, but He makes it clear that our first priority is to seek Him first that other things may be added by His nourishment. He is the one who gives us the strength to do all that He has commanded, and who will provide the wisdom that we need every day. Am I taking the time to seek Him first that He may be glorified, that I may experience His full joy?

Keep us abiding in Christ so that we may bear much fruit for Your glory, that we may have Your full joy!

ESV Lectionary