Abide (Week 1 Devotional)

Author:  Jeff Bianchi
John 15:1 & 4

John 15:1(NIV) I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

Monday, October 5, 2009
“I am the True Vine”

One day while driving past Harvard Stadium on JFK Street in Allston, I saw a clear illustration of a spreading vine. Of course the type of vine that was growing on Harvard’s football stadium was Ivy which represented its place in the prestigious Ivy League. It had spread from ground level up the side of the wall and formed a beautiful covering for this structure. This type of vine is often what comes to mind when someone makes mention of a vine to me.

However, as Jesus spoke of being the true vine, his disciples were given a clear and understandable illustration from their daily life; the grapevine. As always, Jesus knew how to speak to His audience in a culturally appropriate way. Grapevines grew well in the hill country of Israel and as a result were an important part of life and culture in Israel. Jesus’ first miracle in Cana of Galilee had to do with the fruit of the vine and during his last meal he shared the cup of wine with His disciples before He suffered.

Jesus was giving a clear explanation to His disciples that He is the source of true life. So many things in life look to possess life, but in the end they are mirages, that we pursue to our own detriment. Money, possessions, status, and even family can become a false source of life which will eventually prove unable to give us what we truly need. In the statement “I am the True Vine” Jesus is calling us to learn to find our deep needs met in Him and to experience the true fulfillment of one with a heart after God.

Prayer:

“Lord, thank you that you have reminded me today that you are the “true vine”. I ask that you would reveal to me the “false vines” in my life which vie for my affections and steal the true life that you desire to give to me. Jesus, I trust you as the vine and the source of true life. Continue to teach me to depend on and cling to you daily as my Savior and friend. In Jesus’ name, Amen”

Tuesday, October 6, 2009
“My Father is the Gardener”

When I was a child, my family would go across town to my grandparent’s house to visit. In his retirement years my grandfather had a greenhouse in the backyard and actually won a few awards for the tulips that he grew. These many plants needed to be tended to constantly by my grandfather in order to grow and flourish and he was very attentive to the needs of his plants.

Most of the vines in Israel grew in trellised vineyards. A gardener tended them constantly and protected them from those elements that would bring destruction. We see in Jesus statement about His Father as the gardener of the vine, an understanding of His Father’s most tender care. Jesus had also told his disciples that he did nothing apart from His Father and we see that He enjoyed a relationship with His Father of love and protection.

An important lesson to learn as we grow in our faith is that dependence, not mastery is the goal of the Christian life. Just as Jesus lived in a dependant relationship on His Heavenly Father, so we must depend on Him for everything that we need. We must daily commit ourselves to “the Gardener” and cling to “the Vine” in order to live the abundant life that God so desires for us to experience. Out of this intimate relationship with God will come all the wisdom, power, and strength that we need to overcome in life.

Prayer:

“Thank you Father, that you are the gardener who takes care of my life as I depend on you. I ask you to reveal in various ways today how you constantly care for me. Forgive me for my lack of dependence on you and teach me to lean on you constantly as my Lord. Thank you for protecting me from the evil one by the power of Your Holy name and cause me to bear fruit for your Glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen”

Wednesday, October 7, 2009
“Abide in Me”

The place where someone abides continually is called an abode. A bird has a nest, a bear has a den, and an ant has a colony. These various abodes have different names, but are all places where these animals make their home. As human beings, we also have different names for our homes such as an igloo, teepee, or house. These abodes provide shelter, warmth and a sense of belonging to those who live in them. When Jesus told His disciples to abide in Him, he was explaining that he wanted them to make Him the place where they continually dwelled.

A statement that Brother Lawrence used to describe the concept of abiding in the 17th century and Frank Laubach in the 20th century was called “Practicing the Presence of God.” As these men sought day after day to acknowledge God as their dwelling place, the presence of God became a reality to them. They did not experience success all at one time, but eventually learned to live as one hidden in the dwelling place of God. Jesus desires for us to find Him as the place where we are most comfortable and to live in Him on a continual basis.

The soul of mankind is looking for a place to run and hide. The Lord is that ever present Hiding Place. Just as a warm and comfortable den, God is found to bring great comfort to our orphaned spirits. Take heart, your Savior is waiting for you to cast aside the cares of the world and to come and abide in Him.

Prayer:

“Lord, my soul is longing for a safe place to dwell. You are my refuge from the storms of life. I ask you to you to teach me to p ractice your presence and to be quick to turn to you when I have strayed from your peace and protection. Thank you that your presence is healing to my soul and my dwelling place forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Thursday, October 8, 2009
“And I in You”

A recent series of Gatorade commercials asks the question “Is it in you?” These commercials show a series of athletes who are supposedly filled with Gatorade and are doing amazing athletic feats which few of us could achieve. The performance of these athletes is enhanced by this replenishing drink formulated by the Florida Gator football team. Even as an average athlete, I have personally experienced the advantage that sports drinks provide for overall performance while running a marathon.

In making the statement that He abides in us, Jesus is revealing a wonderful truth. Mystery of mysteries, the God of the entire universe is actually living in us. In Romans 8:11 it says, “ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” If a sport’s drink can give power to an athlete to perform at maximum capacity, imagine the ability that you possess as a believer, with God indwelling you.

The same Jesus that raised the dead, healed the sick and performed all kinds of miracles is waiting to do a powerful work in you to free you from the bondage of fear and sin. He also is longing to work through you today in order to make His name known and deliver men and women from the power of Satan’s domain. As Mary, the mother of Jesus said when the angel appeared to announce His birth, let us say “be it done, according to Your will.”

Prayer:

“Lord, what a privilege that You, the God of the Universe are living in me. Forgive me for living so far below what you desire for my life and for those around me. I ask you to rise up within me and to deliver me today from those things which displease you. Empower me to see mighty things today in the lives of those who so desperately need your touch. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Friday, October 9, 2009
“The branch cannot bear fruit by itself…neither can you”

A father and son team from the Boston area has touched many hearts with their amazing story of achievement. One day in 1977, Rick Hoyt, son of Dick Hoyt asked his father to run a five mile benefit run with him. Rick was a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. He was unable to do anything for himself, but a dream was put in his heart to run this race and the only way that he could do it was with his father.

Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished the five mile race in next to last place. This race however, was only the beginning, as they have run over 1000 races, including marathons and triathlons since that time. They have also had the opportunity to do numerous interviews and motivational speaking around the country.

Team Hoyt, as they are called, are a natural example of the spiritual truth that we must remain in God in order to continually bear fruit. We are as dependent upon our Lord to bear spiritual fruit as Rick Hoyt is upon his father to run races. We are responsible to ask our Father to help us and we must be available to be used by Him, but the ability to bear fruit is all His. We get to see Him do great things through us and share with Him in the joy of bringing Him glory. It is time that we recognize our need and call upon God to bear fruit through our lives. As a dear friend of mine in God years ago used to say, “I can’t, but He can.”

Prayer:

“Lord, I confess that I have a desire to bear fruit for Your Glory. I know that it is impossible for me to do apart from You. I come to you as a dependant child and ask you to bear fruit through me. I cling to you as a branch to the vine, and believe that You will do great things through me. Thank you for do above what I could ask or think. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Saturday, October 10, 2009
“Unless you abide in Me”

Segregation was a dark chapter in the history of our country. In many places, there was a strict separation of the races and if your skin was a certain color you were not welcome to live in some areas of town. The memory of it is still painful and the absurdity of calling one race superior to all others becomes clearer the further we are removed from it. Praise God that this injustice is continuing to be eradicated and all people are being recognized as of equal value. These walls of separation due to race are coming down and we are all the better for it.

Due to our own sinfulness, however, we as humans are not inherently able to live with God. Segregation was due to prejudice and a reprehensible series of actions, but our separation from God as mankind is completely just, due to our own disobedience and rebellion. Until the time of Jesus, we as people were unable to live where He was. The Law given to Moses was not able to do fully cleanse the conscience of the worshipper.

This was the reason that Jesus in John 14 explains to His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them. Jesus was not primarily speaking of a location, but He was speaking of the fact that His crucifixion was going to do away with sin and prepare a way for us to live with God eternally. God has always longed to live with man and now He, through the blood of Jesus has made the way so that we can live, abide, and dwell with Him. Praise God for His goodness!

Prayer:

“Lord, how can I thank you enough for preparing a place for me? Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins and making a way for me to dwell with you forever. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 27, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this will I seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His holy temple. In Jesus’ name, Amen”