John 15:4 Except Ye Abide In Me

John 15:4 (KJV)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Christ explains to His disciples that the fruitfulness of their lives depends upon His blessing. He urged them to abide in Him as He abides in them. This abiding is the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, that will aid the disciples after Christ’s ascension to heaven.

The branch of a plant can only be sustained when it is connected to the stem and nourished through its roots that receive nutrients from the ground. Even so, Christ’s disciples when they remained with Him. And they are submitted to Him and His teachings and His will.

It is a simple yet powerful illustration to help His people know that in Christ is life and without Christ, there is no life. No life outside Christ. It means daily looking to Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Amen.