Abide in Jesus

Photo Above: (Bixby Bridge) Big Sur, California. Wikipedia

Abide in Jesus

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.4 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. 5 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. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:1-11

In the 1929 Rose Bowl what is considered one of the biggest college football blunders occurred. A center by the name of Roy Riegels, now called Roy “Wrong Way” Riegels picked up a fumble 30 yards away from the his team’s end zone. In the midst of the fumble Riegels somehow got turned around and ran 69 yards the wrong way. His teammates were yelling at him and trying to catch up to Him. Ultimately Riegels was tackled by opponents on the opposing one yard line. Riegels was later asked why he ran the other way and if he could hear everyone yelling at him. Riegels said He thought people were cheering Him on as He ran towards a touchdown. He said what he thought it was one of the greatest moments in his life was actually one of his worst moments in his life.

This went down as one of the biggest college football blunders. Interestingly enough though I believe this same type of thing can happen to us spiritually when we don’t live by the Holy Spirit. We can and do go the wrong direction spiritually when we crowd God out of our lives. This is a mistake because in the scripture above we see that Jesus says He is the vine and we are the branches, and He tells us if we abide in Him we will be fruitful, but apart from Him we can do nothing.

This is a good reminder for us. In order to stay on track and be fruitful in God we must abide in Him. The less time we spend reading the scriptures and praying, the more our lives comes out of focus spiritually. Paul writes to the churches of Galatia “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

In light of Gods promises of resurrection let’s embrace Paul’s exhortation for the Roman church for ourselves “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”