I love John 15. Each time I read this passage, I learn something different (which is why the Bible is called the Living Word). In my Bible reading last night, John 15:7 really stuck out to me.
“Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” So I can ask God for whatever and it will happen? No. The byproduct of abiding in Christ and hiding His word in our hearts is God changing our wants and desires to His wants and desires, to be made into the image of Him. What does it mean to abide in Christ? I love the way my Scofield Study Bible puts it: “the ‘abiding’ one takes all burdens to Him, and draws all wisdom, life, and strength from Him.” He is our Life, our Living Hope. The closer I grow to Christ, the more I abide in Him, the more I want the things that He wants, which enables me to pray within His will. John 15:7 says, “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.”
Not only does abiding in Christ transform our wants and desires to look more like Christ’s, it also allows us to bear fruit, not just a little fruit, but much fruit! John 15:8 says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall be done unto you.” What does it mean to bear fruit? It means to have love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). The exemplification of these qualities is how others know that we belong to Christ (Matthew 7:16). At all times every single day are you going to be all of these things? Absolutely not! I do not exemplify these qualities at all times because I am still flesh! But at the end of the day, I hope I am drawn back to the cross and made aware of where I have fallen short of the glory of God! John 15:2 says, “every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may be forth more fruit.” Purging a branch consists of trimming it back so that it will grow back more fruitful, removing the dead parts; this is what Jesus does with us! He convicts us and cleanses us of our sins when we repent! I am so thankful to serve a God of conviction and cleansing! I fall short of His glory every day, friends. I am so far from perfect. My righteousness is as filthy rags. Thank you Lord for purging me!
Friends, I encourage you to abide in Him. Under the shadow of the Almighty is the best place to be. He loves you. He wants a relationship with you. Take that next step.
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