Wednesday

Staying Connected

4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

John 15:4-5 (NKJV)

A branch does not strain to make grapes. It does not clench its fists and try harder. It simply stays connected to the vine, and the life of the vine flows through it. Fruit is the result, not the effort.

Jesus used this picture the night before the cross, and He repeated one word again and again: abide. It means to remain, to stay, to make your home in. He is not asking us to visit Him on Sundays. He is inviting us to live connected to Him all day long.

Here is where many of us get tired. We think the Christian life is about producing something for Jesus. So we try to be more patient, more kind, more faithful, and we wear ourselves out. Jesus says the secret is not trying harder but staying closer.

How do we abide in the middle of a busy day? We keep short conversations going with Him. A quick thank You while driving. A whispered prayer before a hard phone call. A verse carried in your mind while you work. None of these takes much time, but together they keep the branch attached to the vine.

Today, look for three moments to turn your heart toward Jesus, and take them. Do not worry about the fruit. That is His job. Yours is to stay connected.

Lord Jesus, You are the vine and I am only a branch. Forgive me for trying to do life on my own strength. Teach me to stay close to You through every hour of this day, and let Your life flow through me. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!