Abide

One of our delightful discoveries in Panama were the fence lines. The logs that serve as fence posts are nothing special, just cut and harvested from local trees. Yet, in the rich, fertile soil of the Panamanian mountains and the pure, clean air, they remarkably defy conventional wisdom and come to life as new trees. They grow where they are planted.

These fence lines are a picture of the restorative power of Jesus. He is the author of our story, and He has purpose in where He plants us. We need only to look to Him for nourishment.

In John 15, Jesus tells us to “abide” in Him, using the imagery of a vine and its branches. “Abide” is not a word we use a lot, so what does that even mean? Webster’s says abide means to “endure wait, continue in a place.” The Greek word meinate means “to stay, reside.” So what does that look like?

We abide by praying and staying in His Word. Our connection to Jesus hinges on our intentionality in relationship with Him and making a habit to study Scripture, to know what Jesus’ teachings are so that we can follow Him.

We also abide by living in His love and remembering His faithfulness with grateful hearts and a posture of worship. Psalm 77 says,

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, And meditate on your mighty deeds.” (v. 11-12)

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Abiding in His love means living in the victory of Jesus’ death and resurrection and accepting it as our own.

In the English Standard Version of John 15

, Jesus uses the word “abide” nine times. This repetition is a point of emphasis because we are prone to wander. If we again consider those logs, that was us. We were cut off and separated from God, dead in our sin. But through the grace of Jesus, we flourish in His grace and thrive in His love. We come back to life as new creations.