Abide in God's Love

10Apr
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine- grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit … Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches … As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 
-John 15: 1-10

In this passage from John, God is the Divine Gardener. The word “abide” occurs nine times in the full text. Abide has many meanings - “to remain close”; “to accept or act in accordance with”; “to wait patiently”; “to remain and be present”;” to tolerate or endure without yielding”; “to follow”. To abide in God’s love is to stay close to the Source and dwell in God’s presence. 


Abiding is relational. By abiding, we allow God to prune away and remove our character defects so we can better embrace His love in order to love and serve others. We are to be present and conscious of God in our lives and God promises to lift us up when we are down. In our lives, struggles, unexpected loss, bad health outcomes, a child or spouse in pain, will occur. But if we, as the branches, remain attached to the (DI)- vine, God will use these painful times in our lives to transform them into further growth and healing. 


Where am I in relation to Christ? Am I abiding? What can I ask God to prune away or let go of to make way for healing and growth? What hurts am I willing to let go so God’s unconditional love and forgiveness can come in? 


Musical Reflection - Always With Me - The Porter's Gate

Loving God,thank you for your promise to remain with us. Continue to teach us to abide in You and fill us with Your love moment by moment. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

New TestamentLoveEaster

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