Abiding in Christ
I've always been fascinated by Jesus' words in John 15:5: "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."
What does it truly mean to abide in Christ? It's far more than religious activity or spiritual box-ticking. Abiding is about maintaining a constant connection with Jesus, like a branch naturally draws life from the vine.
Think about it: branches don't strain to produce fruit. They simply stay connected to their life source. The branch doesn't wake up each morning with a to-do list: "Must make three grapes by noon!" No, fruit emerges organically when the branch remains attached to the vine.
Similarly, our spiritual fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, etc.—isn't manufactured through human effort.
Is the Fruit of the Spirit M.I.A.?
Some days, I honestly struggle to find the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, and so on. They have to be there because I know I’m saved. The Spirit of God lives within me; therefore, the fruit of the Spirit must also be there. But most days, I just don’t see it.
When the calendar is overbooked and the bills are overdue, peace is the last thing on my mind. When my body is tired and my back is aching, I struggle to muscle up any joy. And when that person has gotten on your last nerve for the fifth time in a day, love and patience are nowhere to be found.