Abide!

Abide!

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 KJV

Jesus takes time to speak, not to the crowd, but to His disciples. There are instructions for the crowd, and there are instructions for disciples. When you know which one you are, no one will compel you to obey and align with your position. All who are true disciples know who they are connected to, and they know what they are expected to show off. 

Jesus introduces Himself as the vine, and all who follow Him are the branches. These positions can NEVER be reversed; at no time can a branch become the vine, and the vine cannot become the branch. It is the vine that provides the nourishment the branch needs to survive, thrive and fruit. If I am a true disciple, I will seek to know what God wants from me, and seek to show Him off. Does the vine know me as a branch? Is all I am doing now an outflow that reflects my connection to the vine? 

And it is important to ABIDE. That word is fundamental to what God wants for and from me. This is not supposed to be a temporary state of affairs, where I connect to and disconnect from the vine when I please. I am expected to abide in the vine, not in church. I am expected to abide in Him, not in lovely programs. My life cannot find any true expression outside the One who should inspire my daily pursuits and priorities. 

And the vine of course continues to provide all that the branch needs. The vine sees this as a lifelong work, and He promises to keep doing it as long as I am connected. This then means that I am the one who needs to sort out my allegiance. Who am I? Who do I work for? Who determines the things I focus on? The answers to these questions will determine the output of my life. It has already been laid out by the vine: if you are not in me, and I am not inspiring and leading your life's output, it will not end well. 

How will a branch survive outside its source of nourishing? No matter how nice the place is, or how solid its new connection is, a branch will not survive outside the place that is its proper connection; the place that is able to provide exactly what the branch needs. It has to be attached to the vine that is able to provide its specific needs. There are a number of options that the devil will try and suggest, even try to make them attractive, but as long as they are not the vine, they cannot provide what the branch actually needs. It is clear: Connection determines fruitfulness. If I want it, I have to be where it can reach me. Am I connected right? His time of favour is here.