Welcome to Day 2162 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

The Gospel of John – 30 – Abiding – Daily Wisdom

The Gospel of John – Part 4 Confirmation Of The Word – Abiding

Today we continue our series, the Good News according to John the Apostle. Last, we saw Jesus teaching the disciples that the way to overcome fear is to allow the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to fill us and bring peace to our hearts as we read in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Our scripture for today is John 15:1-11. Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson about abiding in Him. Follow along as I read. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. After hearing of Jesus’ imminent departure from the world on the eve of His crucifixion, fear gripped the disciples like a steel vice. How could they possibly go on without Jesus? What would come of His kingdom? Was the Lord challenging them to build a kingdom without a king? Not exactly. First, He promised that His going away played a crucial role in the plan of God to redeem the world and that He would return (John 14:1–15). Second, He promised He would not leave them to fend for themselves; He would be present within them in the person of the Holy Spirit, whose role is to teach and provide courage (John 14:16–24). Third, He promised confidence in the truth of His words and comfort in His continual presence would grow as they obeyed Him (John 14:25–31). The disciples had placed their trust in Jesus Christ, but they lacked maturity. The Lord had taught them divine truth for three and a half years, but it had not yet been tested. The time had come for these infant Christians to walk independently. Their only hope of overcoming fear was to allow confidence in the truth of Jesus Christ to grow and gradually displace it. In chapter 15, Jesus described three key relationships that every believer must manage if they are to cultivate confidence and rise above the consequences of the Fall, including fear, that holds us like a steel vice: As we examine 15:1–11, four observations will help our interpretation. First, this passage has meaning for believers only. Any nonbeliever trying to apply these truths will be hopelessly confused. Jesus was not describing how one becomes a Christian, but how one lives as a Christian after trusting Him. Second, Jesus draws heavily on the metaphor of a vineyard, a powerful symbol with roots running deep into the soil of Israel’s history (Ps. 80:8–9; Isa. 5:1–7; Ezek. 15:1–5; Hos. 10:1). No illustration touched the Hebrew soul like the image of a vinedresser and his vineyard. Third, the primary subject of Christ’s teaching is abiding, not bearing fruit. At no point in the discourse is the believer commanded to produce fruit. Instead, we are promised that if we abide, fruit will result. Fourth, Jesus’s illustration would have been familiar to every disciple and virtually all of John’s readers, but unfamiliar to most of us today. Therefore, we must be careful not to milk every detail for symbolic meaning. Illustrations allow us to see the big picture—that must be our focus here. 15:1–2 The image of a vine and vinedresser (gardener) touchingly illustrated God’s special care for the nation of Israel, which gave the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel a perfect image for their stinging rebukes (Isa. 5:1–7; Ezek. 15:1–5). God had planted Israel in the Promised Land to reveal His Word and teach all nations about His grace. Israel was to flourish as a living example of how obedience bears the fruit of righteousness. Moreover, the Lord promised to bless Israel as the nation’s relationship of trust grew stronger. But Israel failed. By declaring Himself the “true vine,” Jesus replaced Israel, claiming to be the authentic, healthy vineyard the nation had failed to become (Isa. 5:1–7). Just as the Father had tended the failed vineyard of Israel, He would tend the flourishing vineyard of the Son. Jesus then summarized the care a vinedresser gives to a vine. The Greek verb airō, translated as “cuts off,” has the primary definition of “to lift from the ground,” although the term can and often does mean “to lift with a view to carrying, to carry off or put away.” John has used airō in both senses: “cuts off” (John 11:39, 48; 16:22; 17:15) and “to lift up” (5:8–12; 8:59). Therefore, a strong case for either definition can be made. I favor the definition “to lift up” for several reasons. First, these two verses summarize the illustration, describing the general care of a vinedresser nurturing a vine. Vinedressers are rarely seen cutting off branches during the growing season. (Apple example) Instead, they carry a bundle of strings and a pair of pruning shears as they work their way down a row. They carefully lift sagging branches and tie them to the trellis—a procedure called “training.” They also strategically snip smaller shoots from branches to maximize their fruit yield, called “pruning.” I favor “to lift up” for a second reason. A combination of “cuts off” and “prunes” places too great an emphasis on cutting the vine when Jesus’s focus is the Father’s care during the growing season. The image of carrying off dead branches is a detail that will appear later as He refines the illustration. 15:3–4 The Lord reassured the disciples that they had already been pruned. The adjective translated “already clean” is based on the same verb for “prune” in 15:2. He followed this assurance with a command in some translations to “abide.” The verb rightly translated in the NIV is “to remain” or “to stay in place,” very often in reference to one’s home. Upon meeting Jesus, Andrew and John asked Him, “where are You staying (or abiding)?” (1:38). “To remain” in terms of this metaphor refers to the branch remaining connected to the vine. Branches that do not receive nourishing sap from the vine cannot produce fruit—or continue living, for that matter. A key to understanding what Jesus meant by “to remain” is the expression “in Me,” which reflects a theological concept called “positional truth” or “identification.” The apostle Paul often described believers as “in Christ.” “Identification” describes the believer’s relationship with Christ such that God treats them as He would Jesus. Imagine driving to the front gate of Buckingham Palace in London. You won’t get very far before having to turn around. Without the proper credentials, the guards will turn you away. However, if the newly appointed King Charles sent his official car to pick you up and drive you to the gate, you would receive the same treatment he does. Because you are in the King’s official vehicle, the guard will give you the same royal treatment due the monarch of Great Britain. Similarly, being “in Christ” allows the believer to share the Son’s identity. Consequently, those “in Christ” enjoy all the benefits of His relationship, including unrestricted access to the Father. Jesus didn’t use this illustration to make any points about salvation. Instead, in 15:3, the Lord affirmed the disciples’ salvation, assuring them that God had already done His part; they were “already clean.” Then, with salvation settled, Jesus used this illustration to discuss the Christian life after salvation. He turned from the issue of position—“remain in Me”—to that of production. Once an individual chooses to believe and receives the assurance of eternal life, what is our purpose? How, then, shall we live? Like branches on a vine, we live to bear fruit (15:2). 15:5 As we examine this illustration, it is vitally important to keep two points in focus: The subject is not salvation, but vitality as a believer. The image of “fruit” in biblical literature is a common metaphor for “evidence.” Fruit proves the identity of a plant and reveals its state of health (15:8). An expert horticulturist knows when they are looking at a pear tree instead of an apple tree just by examining its leaves and bark. Untrained observers will have difficulty identifying what kind of tree they’re observing. There’s no chance of error if the tree hangs heavy with fruit. Furthermore, good quality fruit is a strong indication of good health. Even a novice in horticulture knows that lots of lush, delicious fruit can come only from a robust and vibrant plant. A seriously sick plant cannot accomplish its purpose. Jesus indicated that the branches are the disciples—not unbelievers—and He promised that abiding (remain in me) would inevitably lead to bearing fruit. If they remain connected to Him, they will receive nourishing sap, grow strong, and eventually bear unmistakable evidence of their identity as members of the vine (15:8). Moreover, the presence of fruit will testify to their good health in Christ. On the other hand, branches that do not bear fruit do not cease to be grapevines; however, their health becomes suspect, and their identity might be questioned. Branches that do not remain connected to the vine wither away and become good for nothing. Christians often assume that producing fruit is their responsibility, something they must do in gratitude for what Christ has done for them. So they strive to produce fruit only to fail, pick themselves up, promise to do better, try again, and then continue this wretched cycle of failure. Jesus instructed His followers to focus their attention on abiding rather than production. 15:6 The interpretation of John 15:6 can cause heated debate among believers. Some have suggested that those who “do not remain in Me” are believers who have been unfaithful and have lost their salvation, and the Vinedresser decided they should be cut off and thrown away. But Jesus said that no one can be saved and then unsaved (10:27–29). Others suggest that the non-abiding branches represent those who never genuinely believed—people who reject Jesus outright or those who merely profess to believe. Again, however, Jesus’ illustration applies only to believers. We know this because John 15:2 speaks of every branch “in Me,” which presumes a relationship exists, and because 15:3 specifies Jesus’ audience as those who are “already clean.” More likely, Jesus drew upon the imagery of Ezekiel’s illustration in 15:1-5: Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, how does a grapevine compare to a tree? Is a vine’s wood as useful as the wood of a tree? Can its wood be used for making things, like pegs to hang up pots and pans? No, it can only be used for fuel, and even as fuel, it burns too quickly. Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire! The point is this: vinedressers toss disconnected branches aside because they are good for nothing. As Warren Wiersbe so succinctly states, It is unwise to build a theological doctrine on a parable or allegory. Jesus was teaching one primary truth—the fruitful life of the believer—and we must not press the details too much. Just as an unfruitful branch is useless, an unfruitful believer is useless; both must be dealt with. It is a tragic thing for a once-fruitful believer to backslide and lose his privilege of fellowship and service. Jesus drew upon Ezekiel’s analogy to call believers who do not abide in Him good for nothing. We cannot produce fruit on our own. If, however, we abide in Christ, we will accomplish our created purpose and be easily identified as healthy members of God’s family (John 15:8). 15:7–9 Jesus quickly turned from the negative to the positive. As the believer abides, or remains vitally connected to Jesus Christ, they assume a Christ-like character. The believer is transformed from the inside out. Their mind dwells on the kinds of thoughts that God thinks. The believer’s heart begins to reflect the values of God (Jer. 31:31–33). And as we think as God thinks, we ask for what is consistent with His plan, which results in His giving us what we ask. 15:10–11 So what does it mean to “remain in Me”? We know the analogy only applies to believers, and that abiding produces something in the believer’s life such that others can easily identify them as connected to Christ (15:8). But how does one “remain in Christ”? According to Jesus, the question is answered in one word: obedience. “Keeping commandments” and “remain in my love” are synonymous. Take note of the parallel relationships established by Jesus. His connection with the Father is the pattern for our connection with Him. He obeys and loves the Father; we obey and love Christ. Because our relationship with Christ is just like His with the Father, we will receive the same benefit, which He called “joy.” The Greek word describes someone in a state of gladness, such as at harvesttime (4:36) or at a wedding feast (3:29). It’s an emotive word intended to be the opposite of fear. Jesus noted the disciples’ fear of announcing His departure as the dialogue opened. He first assured them that His departure was not intended to punish their shortcomings; instead, His departure was necessary to bless them in spite of their failures (14:1–15). He then promised to be with them through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and that they would sense His continuing presence through Him (14:16–31). In addition to that reassurance, He gave us a remedy against fear and a means to experience His ongoing presence despite His physical absence: obedience (15:1–11). When we obey, confidence displaces fear (1 Jn. 2:28), resulting in joy. Application: John 15:1–11 The Fruit of Abiding If you have trusted in Christ, your eternal destiny has been set. You are chosen by God, and nothing will pluck you from His hand. Your position in Christ is secure; however, your production is another matter. If you “abide/remain” in Christ—that is, obey Him, primarily by loving others—you will enjoy four specific results. First, prayers are answered. This is not to suggest that God will become our personal genie. The promise is conditional. If we are connected to the vine and become more like Jesus, our prayers will not be selfish, but the kind of requests He would make. Jesus received everything He requested because He and the Father are completely and consistently aligned in their thinking. Second, God is glorified. As we model the character of Jesus, obeying His commands in the same way He obeyed those of the Father, the triune God receives all the credit. He delights to see us reflecting His character and looks for opportunities to pour His blessings on His children in response. Third, love is stimulated. Note the absence of struggle or exertion. As we abide in Christ, the character qualities that honor the Lord begin to emerge, like grapes naturally growing from a healthy, vine-connected branch. Because God is love (1 Jn. 4:8), others will notice this divine quality developing within us. Fourth, joy will overflow. “Joy” doesn’t refer to superficial happiness or shallow cheerfulness. On the contrary, joy is a deeply felt contentment that transcends difficult circumstances and derives maximum enjoyment from every good experience. Although it isn’t all about laughter, abiding in Christ inspires laughter as you’ve never experienced before. Moreover, deep, contented joy comes from a place of complete security and confidence—even amid trial. I once heard, “Joy is the flag that flies over the castle of our hearts, announcing that the King is in residence.” You know, it’s even possible to pastor a church, without abiding in Christ. It’s also possible to run a business as a Christian, teach Bible classes, be a wife or a husband, and even counsel people, all without abiding in Christ. We have all probably experienced it in our lives, which is miserable. However, any good we do and any success we enjoy will not have a lasting impact. Conversely, when we obey and allow His strength to flow through us, the Lord produces results that defy natural explanation—powerfully effective prayers, God-honoring blessings, unbounded love, and inexplicable joy. Next, Jesus continues his lesson with his disciples and teaches them about the Qualities of a Friend. Please read John 15:12-17 in preparation for that message. Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly, your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal. As we take this trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Everyday! See you next time for more wisdom from God’s Word!

Welcome to Day: 2162

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

The Gospel of John – 30 – Abiding – Daily Wisdom

/: 2022

The Gospel of John – Part 4 Confirmation Of The Word – Abiding

our hearts as we read in John: 14:27

 

, starting on page: 1676

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

 

After hearing of Jesus’ imminent departure from the world on the eve of His crucifixion, fear gripped the disciples like a steel vice. How could they possibly go on without Jesus? What would come of His kingdom? Was the Lord challenging them to build a kingdom without a king? Not exactly.

First, He promised that His going away played a crucial role in the plan of God to redeem the world and that He would return (John 14:1–15).

to teach and provide courage (: 14:16

ould grow as they obeyed Him (: 14:25

The disciples had placed their trust in Jesus Christ, but they lacked maturity. The Lord had taught them divine truth for three and a half years, but it had not yet been tested. The time had come for these infant Christians to walk independently. Their only hope of overcoming fear was to allow confidence in the truth of Jesus Christ to grow and gradually displace it.

In chapter 15, Jesus described three key relationships that every believer must manage if they are to cultivate confidence and rise above the consequences of the Fall, including fear, that holds us like a steel vice:

As we examine 15:1–11, four observations will help our interpretation. (Bulletin)

 

First, this passage has meaning for believers only. Any nonbeliever trying to apply these truths will be hopelessly confused. Jesus was not describing how one becomes a Christian, but how one lives as a Christian after trusting Him.

Second, Jesus draws heavily on the metaphor of a vineyard, a powerful symbol with roots running deep into the soil of Israel’s history (Ps. 80:8–9; Isa. 5:1–7; Ezek. 15:1–5; Hos. 10:1). No illustration touched the Hebrew soul like the image of a vinedresser and his vineyard.

Third, the primary subject of Christ’s teaching is abiding, not bearing fruit. At no point in the discourse is the believer commanded to produce fruit. Instead, we are promised that if we abide, fruit will result.

Fourth, Jesus’s illustration would have been familiar to every disciple and virtually all of John’s readers, but unfamiliar to most of us today. Therefore, we must be careful not to milk every detail for symbolic meaning. Illustrations allow us to see the big picture—that must be our focus here.

(Observations)

—15:1–2—

The image of a vine and vinedresser (gardener) touchingly illustrated God’s special care for the nation of Israel, which gave the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel a perfect image for their stinging rebukes (Isa. 5:1–7; Ezek. 15:1–5). God had planted Israel in the Promised Land to reveal His Word and teach all nations about His grace. Israel was to flourish as a living example of how obedience bears the fruit of righteousness. Moreover, the Lord promised to bless Israel as the nation’s relationship of trust grew stronger. But Israel failed.

By declaring Himself the “true vine,” Jesus replaced Israel, claiming to be the authentic, healthy vineyard the nation had failed to become (Isa. 5:1–7). Just as the Father had tended the failed vineyard of Israel, He would tend the flourishing vineyard of the Son.

senses: “cuts off” (John: 11:39

I favor the definition “to lift up” for several reasons. First, these two verses summarize the illustration, describing the general care of a vinedresser nurturing a vine. Vinedressers are rarely seen cutting off branches during the growing season. (Apple example) Instead, they carry a bundle of strings and a pair of pruning shears as they work their way down a row. They carefully lift sagging branches and tie them to the trellis—a procedure called “training.” They also strategically snip smaller shoots from branches to maximize their fruit yield, called “pruning.”

I favor “to lift up” for a second reason. A combination of “cuts off” and “prunes” places too great an emphasis on cutting the vine when Jesus’s focus is the Father’s care during the growing season. The image of carrying off dead branches is a detail that will appear later as He refines the illustration.

—15:3–4—

The Lord reassured the disciples that they had already been pruned. The adjective translated “already clean” is based on the same verb for “prune” in 15:2. He followed this assurance with a command in some translations to “abide.” The verb rightly translated in the NIV is “to remain” or “to stay in place,” very often in reference to one’s home. Upon meeting Jesus, Andrew and John asked Him, “where are You staying (or abiding)?” (1:38). “To remain” in terms of this metaphor refers to the branch remaining connected to the vine. Branches that do not receive nourishing sap from the vine cannot produce fruit—or continue living, for that matter.

A key to understanding what Jesus meant by “to remain” is the expression “in Me,” which reflects a theological concept called “positional truth” or “identification.” The apostle Paul often described believers as “in Christ.” “Identification” describes the believer’s relationship with Christ such that God treats them as He would Jesus.

Imagine driving to the front gate of Buckingham Palace in London. You won’t get very far before having to turn around. Without the proper credentials, the guards will turn you away. However, if the newly appointed King Charles sent his official car to pick you up and drive you to the gate, you would receive the same treatment he does. Because you are in the King’s official vehicle, the guard will give you the same royal treatment due the monarch of Great Britain. Similarly, being “in Christ” allows the believer to share the Son’s identity. Consequently, those “in Christ” enjoy all the benefits of His relationship, including unrestricted access to the Father.

Jesus didn’t use this illustration to make any points about salvation. Instead, in 15:3, the Lord affirmed the disciples’ salvation, assuring them that God had already done His part; they were “already clean.” Then, with salvation settled, Jesus used this illustration to discuss the Christian life after salvation. He turned from the issue of position—“Remain in Me”—to that of production. Once an individual chooses to believe and receives the assurance of eternal life, what is our purpose? How, then, shall we live? Like branches on a vine, we live to bear fruit (15:2). (wild grape vines in our woods don’t produce well)

—15:5—

As we examine this illustration, it is vitally important to keep two points in focus: The subject is not salvation, but vitality as a believer. The image of “fruit” in biblical literature is a common metaphor for “evidence.” Fruit proves the identity of a plant and reveals its state of health (15:8). (Grapes)

Expert horticulturist knows when they are looking at a pear tree instead of an apple tree just by examining its leaves and bark. Untrained observers will have difficulty identifying what kind of tree they’re observing. There’s no chance of error if the tree hangs heavy with fruit. Furthermore, good quality fruit is a strong indication of good health. Even a novice in horticulture knows that lots of lush, delicious fruit can come only from a robust and vibrant plant. A seriously sick plant cannot accomplish its purpose.

Jesus indicated that the branches are the disciples—not unbelievers—and He promised that abiding (remain in me) would inevitably lead to bearing fruit. If they remain connected to Him, they will receive nourishing sap, grow strong, and eventually bear unmistakable evidence of their identity as members of the vine (15:8). Moreover, the presence of fruit will testify to their good health in Christ. On the other hand, branches that do not bear fruit do not cease to be grapevines; however, their health becomes suspect, and their identity might be questioned. Branches that do not remain connected to the vine wither away and become good for nothing.

Christians often assume that producing fruit is their responsibility, something they must do in gratitude for what Christ has done for them. So they strive to produce fruit only to fail, pick themselves up, promise to do better, try again, and then continue this wretched cycle of failure. Jesus instructed His followers to focus their attention on abiding rather than production.

—15:6—

an be saved and then unsaved (: 10:27

More likely, Jesus drew upon the imagery of Ezekiel’s illustration in 15:1-5:

Then this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, how does a grapevine compare to a tree? Is a vine’s wood as useful as the wood of a tree? 3 Can its wood be used for making things, like pegs to hang up pots and pans? 4 No, it can only be used for fuel, and even as fuel, it burns too quickly. 5 Vines are useless both before and after being put into the fire!

The point is this: vinedressers toss disconnected branches aside because they are good for nothing. As Warren Wiersbe so succinctly states,

It is unwise to build a theological doctrine on a parable or allegory. Jesus was teaching one primary truth—the fruitful life of the believer—and we must not press the details too much. Just as an unfruitful branch is useless, an unfruitful believer is useless; both must be dealt with. It is a tragic thing for a once-fruitful believer to backslide and lose his privilege of fellowship and service.

Jesus drew upon Ezekiel’s analogy to call believers who do not abide in Him good for nothing. We cannot produce fruit on our own. If, however, we abide in Christ, we will accomplish our created purpose and be easily identified as healthy members of God’s family (John 15:8).

—15:7–9—

flect the values of God (Jer.: 31:31

—: 15:10

So what does it mean to “remain in Me”? We know the analogy only applies to believers, and that abiding produces something in the believer’s life such that others can easily identify them as connected to Christ (15:8). But how does one “remain in Christ”? According to Jesus, the question is answered in one word: obedience. “Keeping commandments” and “remain in my love” are synonymous.

Take note of the parallel relationships established by Jesus. His connection with the Father is the pattern for our connection with Him. He obeys and loves the Father; we obey and love Christ. Because our relationship with Christ is just like His with the Father, we will receive the same benefit, which He called “joy.” The Greek word describes someone in a state of gladness, such as at harvesttime (4:36) or at a wedding feast (3:29). It’s an emotive word intended to be the opposite of fear.

tinuing presence through Him (: 14:16

 

 

 

APPLICATION: JOHN 15:1–11

The Fruit of Abiding

If you have trusted in Christ, your eternal destiny has been set. You are chosen by God, and nothing will pluck you from His hand. Your position in Christ is secure; however, your production is another matter. If you “abide/remain” in Christ—that is, obey Him, primarily by loving others—you will enjoy four specific results.

First, prayers are answered. This is not to suggest that God will become our personal genie. The promise is conditional. If we are connected to the vine and become more like Jesus, our prayers will not be selfish, but the kind of requests He would make. Jesus received everything He requested because He and the Father are completely and consistently aligned in their thinking.

Second, God is glorified. As we model the character of Jesus, obeying His commands in the same way He obeyed those of the Father, the triune God receives all the credit. He delights to see us reflecting His character and looks for opportunities to pour His blessings on His children in response.

Third, love is stimulated. Note the absence of struggle or exertion. As we abide in Christ, the character qualities that honor the Lord begin to emerge, like grapes naturally growing from a healthy, vine-connected branch. Because God is love (1 Jn. 4:8), others will notice this divine quality developing within us.

Fourth, joy will overflow. “Joy” doesn’t refer to superficial happiness or shallow cheerfulness. On the contrary, joy is a deeply felt contentment that transcends difficult circumstances and derives maximum enjoyment from every good experience. Although it isn’t all about laughter, abiding in Christ inspires laughter as you’ve never experienced before. Moreover, deep, contented joy comes from a place of complete security and confidence—even amid trial. I once heard, “Joy is the flag that flies over the castle of our hearts, announcing that the King is in residence.”

You know, it’s even possible to pastor a church,  without abiding in Christ. It’s also possible to run a business as a Christian, teach Bible classes, be a wife or a husband, and even counsel people, all without abiding in Christ. We have all probably experienced it in our lives, which is miserable. However, any good we do and any success we enjoy will not have a lasting impact. Conversely, when we obey and allow His strength to flow through us, the Lord produces results that defy natural explanation—powerfully effective prayers, God-honoring blessings, unbounded love, and inexplicable joy.

of a Friend. Please read John: 15:12