My husband planted morning glories to crawl up our porch last summer. They grew and flourished. Sprawling, green leaves multiplied. Purple, pink, and white blooms burst open, honoring their glorious name.
When autumn arrived, we uprooted the vines. It took about a day for the plants to droop and whither, revealing their lack of nourishment. They were no longer abiding and began to decay. I was reminded of Jesus’ words in John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. 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. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Our lives sometimes mimic my plants. Distractions tug us away from the true vine. We are tempted to forget our life source. Do we abide in personal comforts and expectations rather than in Christ? Do anxious thoughts of what has happened and what could happen strangle our connection to the vine? Or maybe we want to grow the perfect leaves and most glorious blooms. Maybe our standards are rooted in our own perfectionism and not in Christ. Are we making our lives about ourselves and not about the One who planted and nourishes us?
As believers – and as part of the true vine – we have the privilege of walking with God. We have the capacity to produce much fruit. We are also subjected to pruning at the hand of our skilled and intentional Vine Dresser. Our task? To abide in Him. He nourishes our thirsty souls. The sunshine He provides causes our hearts to rejoice in our God. Even His pruning is for our good!
He has given us tools to help us flourish:
- Scripture
- Prayer
- Scripture meditation and memorization
- The local church
When I am distracted, these tools remind me of my life’s purpose: to walk with God. When I try to live apart from Him, my “plant” starts to whither. Distractions grab hold, and try to replace my love for Him alone.
As citizens of heaven, distractions will always attend our pilgrimage. Part of our earthly struggle is remembering that we can do nothing apart from Him. Alone, we whither. Abiding in Christ, we look like Him, and we fulfill the purpose for which we were made.
Taking it Further:
What distractions deter you from abiding in Christ? Are you availing yourself of the tools God has given for your growth and His glory? How does abiding in Him prepare you for His return?
Thank you, Emily! In our distracted world, how much we need this reminder to abide in Him!
Absolutely, Wendy! It is a high calling, but God is so faithful.