Abide in Me
John chapter fifteen used to baffle me. What did “Abide in Me” mean? If I could just figure that out, I’d be set. But the instruction seemed so contrary to my natural bent.
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. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15: 4-6, KJV)
I read these verses in the King James Version in awe and puzzlement. How could I abide in One so holy, so mighty?
Clarification
Decades of study have passed since my early confusion, and I now realize the short book of First John clarifies this concept of abiding. Basically, abiding in Christ is about living in love, living in God, and allowing God to live in us.
And living in has become a bit clearer as the years go by, too. It means a friendly relationship, a camaraderie–mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. Living in implies listening, asking, receiving giving, honoring, waiting for, considering the desires and wants of another. And waiting. Yes, waiting for the Other to reveal wishes, desires, passions.
Waiting
Ah, waiting. Don’t we just love that? No wonder this idea felt so unnatural to me in my early twenties. Back then my driven nature, grounded in shame if I failed to perform, railed against allowing things to happen or embracing the moments as they appeared. No, I had to plan, protect, research, always be at the ready. Who had time or patience for just hanging out?
Learning to Abide
As the years have passed, I’ve learned to abide in Christ. As John wrote in his first letter, I’ve learned when Christ’s Spirit remains in me, I remain in union with Christ–I abide in Christ.
But as for you, Christ has poured out his Spirit on you. As long as his Spirit remains in you, you do not need anyone to teach you. For his Spirit teaches you about everything, and what he teaches is true, not false. Obey the Spirit’s teaching, then, and remain in union with Christ. (1 John 2:27, GNT)
Gail Kittleson
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A passionate reader, I began writing as a young girl. After graduating from college, I became a teacher. Over the course of my career, I taught high schoolers, college undergraduates, and public school teachers how to write personal narratives, expository and persuasive essays, as well as poetry and short fiction. I continued to write: publishing professional articles, two textbooks, short stories, and poetry. In 2013, I won first place in Romantic Suspense in the ACFW Genesis Contest.
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