“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.” (John 15:10 NASB)
I am learning how to abide in love. I know I am a work in progress. Like the Apostle Paul, I find myself doing the things I do not want to do and the things I want to do, I do not do. It is easy to get discouraged but I know, learning from past mistakes, that Jesus is faithful and patient. His love surpasses all my understanding.
Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 NASB)
I need to stay connected to the vine for me to bear fruit. I need to continually spend time in His Word. As I memorize and meditate on the Word of God, I am abiding. I am learning to follow the Holy Spirit as He brings Scripture to my mind and able to cast all imaginations down that try to exalt themselves above God. It is in the abiding that I have the power to overcome the evil one.
I have learned how to stand against the enemy of my soul by using Scripture; just as Jesus demonstrated when He was on the earth. When He was in the desert for forty days and forty nights, being tempted by Satan, he spoke the written Word. When Satan tempted Jesus with food, knowing He was hungry, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 NASB)
The enemy of my soul knows how powerful God’s Word is. He brings every distraction possible to keep me away from reading and studying it. Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7 NASB)
I must discipline myself. My time alone with God in prayer and studying His Word are the most important practices for my daily life. How can I know Him more if I do not take the time to seek Him?
I want to abide in love. Jesus says, “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.” (John 15:10 NASB)
The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22)
If I am to bear much fruit and glorify my heavenly Father, I must abide in the vine, Christ Jesus.
