Abide: Jesus in John 15

John 15 (the only place I find "abide" right now), Jesus says:
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also 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 so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.



As I mentioned yesterday, this comes from the New American Standard translation because that's were I could find "abide" used instead of "remain" and I think the key to what God is saying to me is tied to abiding, not remaining. I do think it's interesting that this section also contains one of the biggest faith challenges I've ever faced: the promise about asking whatever you wish and it will be done for you. The only way that can be true is that it's tied to the condition of abiding in Christ. It just really sounds so simple, doesn't it? Just do it. Just abide in my love and you'll bear fruit and have joy.

Why is it so hard?