John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 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. "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. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
The word "Abide" means to live or dwell in. There is a lot of abiding here in John 15. He abides in us, we abide in Him, His word abides in us. It can actually get a little confusing. What caught my eye and inspired this song is that as he abides in us we begin to change. His presence transforms us from followers to disciples. His presence also causes us to bear much fruit and see our prayers answered in miraculous ways. How about you? Are you simply a follower or are you one of his disciples? There is a big difference between the two. If he abides in us as His Father abides in him we won't be satisfied with anything less than that abiding presence in our lives. I wonder how many followers celebrated his entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday only to call for his crucifiction a few days latter? The followers fell to the way side but his disciples, even Peter who temporarily denied him, were with him in the end. If you are just a follower I encourage you to open your heart and let Him abide in you fully. He promises that if you do you will bear much fruit and He will do a great work in your life.
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