If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 NIV
Just before Jesus went to the cross, He passionately poured out His heart to His disciples for them and future generations. He wanted them to be even closer to Him after He had physically left them than they were at that moment. He knew it was not only possible; it was the Father’s plan. They were to remain in Him and be filled with the Spirit of God so true life would flow from that choice.
How do we do that? Simple, but it requires diligent, intentional choices. It requires
maintaining a continuous, dependent connection to Jesus – the True Vine – to produce spiritual fruit and avoid spiritual withering and death.
Living in His Word (John 15:7). To remain in Christ is to let His words take deep root within you. This goes beyond mere reading; it requires meditating on what you have read, sitting quietly with Him, allowing Him to transform your mind and desires to align with His.
Dependence on Him through consistent prayer (John 15:5). Jesus makes it clear that "apart from Him you can do nothing." Remaining means acknowledging your inability to produce lasting, godly fruit on your own and relying entirely on His strength for daily life. Take every joy, opportunity, and issue to Him. Talk as friends.
Obedience is remaining (John 15:10). Jesus links remaining to keeping His commandments. Obedience is not legalism, but a natural expression of love for Him, mirroring how He obeyed the Father. Just as any relationship becomes distant when we knowingly go against the covenant of the relationship, remaining close to Jesus requires loving obedience.
Remaining is a daily commitment, not a one-time or occasional event (John 15:4). "Remain" implies a continuous, moment-by-moment relationship, not a Sunday-only connection or simply a decision made one time to follow Jesus. It is a daily decision to stay attached to the Vine; It is refusing any distraction or self-dependence that loosens my attachment to the Vine.
- As early as you can every day, affirm your connection to the Vine by spending specific time in Scripture and prayer. Then all throughout the day, intentionally choose to depend on Jesus for wisdom and strength. When temptations or anxieties arise, consciously "return" to the Vine, recognizing that He is your source of life and safety. OBEY. Immediately and fully. Your fruit will explode with life.