Abiding in Christ
ICS Daily Devotions
John 15:8-9 (NKJV) By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
In John Chapter 15, Jesus uses His famous metaphor of the vine and the branches to illustrate our
connectivity with Him, and the importance of abiding in Him for both individual believers and the church as a whole. Our purpose as Christians is to bear fruit—fruit of the Holy Spirit and fruit of our labour for Him. Now, this is not something we can do on our own; as Jesus’ parable shows, a branch can only bear fruit when it is connected to the main vine because without it, they lack the necessary water and nutrients to grow anything. It is exactly the same with the spiritual walk. If we try to live our lives without being guided by God and His Word, it will be to no avail. But if we live a consecrated and missional life, we will be endowed with grace, favour, provision, wisdom, and godly strength.
One can either be a carnal Christian or entrust themselves to God, living a consecrated life, one that is set apart for the Lord in holiness just as the Lord is holy, bearing much fruit and glorifying God. As we do so, we will find ourselves living a life of joy and contentment. To be connected to the vine is a choice where we learn to walk in His will by surrendering ourselves to Him and His Word in all things—our relationships, assets, and careers—and living a lifestyle that always causes us to seek the Lord for His will and direction for our lives.
John 15:7 (NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Abiding in Christ is not just a prerequisite to answered prayers but also a deep relationship with God and hearing His direction. When we abide in God, and His Word is abiding in us, our minds will be open to the counsel of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to receive His
guidance, which may come as an intuition or an idea that surfaces in our minds. He may reveal things to come and warn us regarding people with bad intentions or business ventures.
Moreover, Jesus Christ, Who is the Incarnate Word, has expressed Himself through the written word of the Bible. Therefore, the anchor of our faith and God’s calling for our lives will always be confirmed by His Word.
All of us, possessing different talents from God, have been chosen to bear fruit in our respective industries and fields, glorify God, and make Him known. In all situations and challenges, God will grant us wisdom and answer us so long as we abide in Him daily and consecrate ourselves to Him.
Sermon Series：Friends of God
