Remain

“I am the vine; you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5 NIV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15: 1-8 NIV

Remain in Me.

Remain - Strong’s Concordance Greek 3306: abide, to stay, wait

NASB Translation: abide, await, continue, endure, live

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: to sojourn, to place, tarry, not to depart, not to leave, to continue, to be present, persevere, to remain as one

What good is a branch if it does not remain on the vine? No fruit comes from it. No matter how grand and great the branch may seem, it produces nothing of value without the life-flow from the vine.

Jesus instructs us to remain in Him.

We are to abide, endure, live, not depart, but to remain as one - with the Lord Almighty. Think on that…to be one with the Lord. United. Integrated. Wed - in covenant with the Messiah. When we took on His Name, His Glory became our crown.

Together, as one, with the Lord, we bear much fruit for the Father’s glory. Abiding in Him, our lives are fruitful. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Today, may we be deliberate to remain in Him, being fruitful for the Father’s glory.

Prayer

Father,

Cut off from me the branches of dead works. May they be thrown in to the fire this day.

I submit my life in to Your hands. Prune all that is fruitful in me, bringing forth even greater fruit - for Your glory.

I repent for the moments I have departed from Your presence to glorify self.

I declare, “All glory belongs to the Lord!”

I acknowledge, apart from You, I can do nothing.

In You only, did I find abundant life. Truly, my soul is nourished by the Vine. My spirit fed by the nectar of You, Oh God. It is through You alone, that I am fruitful.

At the moment of salvation, Your life flowed through me, as we were intertwined as one. Your glory became my crown. In return, may my life glorify You, and be fruitful for the Kingdom of God.

Allow Thy Word abide in me.

From the Vine, I will not depart.

Today, in Christ, I choose to remain.

Amen