In John 15:4, Jesus says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
The word “abide” in Greek is “menó,” which means “to stay or remain.” This definition helps us understand that abiding is not just something we do but a state we remain in throughout our day.
Brainstorm what you think it means to abide in Christ…
What came to mind? Bible reading? Prayer? While those are great and necessary habits for our relationship with Christ, these practices alone don’t necessarily mean we are abiding in Christ.
So, what exactly does it mean to “abide in Christ?”
It means we are in a consistent posture of surrender and devotion to Jesus. We are thinking of Him in all our ways—whether we are debating on that vanilla milkshake or switching schools. Abiding means that we live life with Jesus, not simply make time for Him in our busy schedules.
To abide means to choose obedience and love when you have the temptation to sin. It means to choose wisdom instead of foolishness. It means to consider how you can serve Christ in your daily spheres. How can you show Jesus’ love to the individuals on your football team? How can you honor your teachers in ways that set you apart from other students? When we abide in Jesus, we search for Him in every moment of our lives, and when we do this, it will flow out of us and touch those around us positively. With that being said, abiding in Christ is a lifestyle that we choose, not a task we check off our to-do lists.
So now, you might be wondering, “Wait. I understand what it means to abide. But who is this Christ I am supposed to be abiding in?”
If we are abiding in Jesus, we are abiding in Someone who offers love, truth, peace, mercy, hope, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control—to name a few. Therefore, if we are abiding in Jesus, and He abides in us, our lives should reflect these same behaviors. As we remain in Christ, we become more like Him.
Take some time to examine your lifestyle. Are you abiding in Christ and modeling these behaviors consistently? Or have you fallen into a routine? If you are abiding in Jesus, that is wonderful, and I encourage you to keep honoring Him with the daily details! But if you’re like most of us, a whole day may pass before you realize that Jesus didn’t even cross your mind. If that’s you, don’t feel defeated! The good news is that grace awaits you, and you can decide right now to dedicate each moment to Christ!
~Ally Boland
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