Read John 15.1-11
This devotional is the first of three this week focusing on the theme of abiding.
A few weeks ago at our Leadership Team meeting, Mark opened our time with devotions from the “Love Chapter” 1 Corinthians 13. At the end Paul says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13.13). This got the wheels turning in my mind about other places I have seen the words remaining and love together. Just so you’re aware, the word for remain in Greek is meno, and is often translated as remain, abide, or dwell. My mind went right to John 15, although it could have gone to 1 John as well. I’m a bit surprised it didn’t since 1 John 4 talks about how God is love, and so a neat way to read 1 Corinthians 13 is to replace the word love with God, or with your name to see how you’re shaping up. (God is patient, God is kind…)
But the question I am pondering and want you to chew on as well this week, is what does it mean to remain, to abide, to dwell in love? What happens when we abide in love, or abide in God, because God is love? How does abiding in God shape how we live, and how we view life? Does it change our perspective?
In John15 Jesus talks about abiding in him because without Jesus we can do nothing. Without remaining in Jesus, without dwelling in his word, without remaining on the vine we will not bear fruit. But where the language of abiding and love really connect in John 15 is in verses 9 and 10. “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” There seem to be two components to how Jesus talks about abiding in love, one is experiencing God’s love for us, and the other is keeping God’s commandments.
As we explore this theme this week ponder and reflect on how love and abiding/remaining/dwelling connect in your life.
Each devotional this week will end with some lyrics from Abide with Me for you to pray.
Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day.
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changes not, abide with me.
I need your presence every passing hour.
What but your grace can foil the tempters power?
Who like yourself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
Grace and Peace to you, Amen.