Abide

From: "Grace Plus Nothing," by Jeff Harkin © 1990

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Jesus said: 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 (John 15:4).

The branch need not strive to get in the vine; it is in. It need not strive to bear fruit. Everyone knows this. Therefore, Jesus’ point is crystal clear. All the branch does is abide.

To abide is simply to stay in him. It means to rest in him and all that he is for you. That’s the crux of the matter. The place of abiding is  rest; it is peace; it is faith in Jesus, not in ourselves.

Then you can begin to allow his Word to build in you without being threatened by it.

If you abide in Me, and My Words (rhemata) abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7).

Once you know how you got in Jesus, you also know how to stay in. Therefore, you already know how to abide. It is by grace.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (Col. 2:6)