ANDY ANDERSON

Every follower of Christ should take time to honestly consider how their spiritual life is going. Some days we may feel strong and growing, while at other times we may simply be surviving or even withering. Whatever our condition, God’s Word speaks directly to us. In John 15, Jesus uses an image to show how spiritual life works: the vine and its branches.

On the night before his death, Jesus spoke with his disciples and compared himself to a vine. He said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” In the Old Testament, Israel was often called God’s vineyard. God planted and cared for them, but they failed to produce good fruit. When Jesus called himself the true vine, he meant that he is everything Israel was meant to be, faithful, fruitful, and obedient. He is the true source of spiritual life. Anyone who belongs to God must be joined to him.

The Father is the gardener who tends the vine. He removes what is dead and prunes what is alive so that it can grow stronger. Jesus explained that those who bear fruit will be pruned so they can bear even more. Pruning may be painful, but it is always done in love. God works in the lives of his people to help them grow, even through loss or hardship. Like a tree branch trimmed by a careful gardener, the believer is shaped by God’s hand to become more useful and beautiful.

Jesus made it clear that real believers always produce some kind of fruit. The ones who show no fruit are like branches that appear connected but are not truly alive. They eventually fall away because they were never part of the vine. True followers of Christ, however, are not cut off. Even when they struggle, God continues his work in them.

To “abide” in Christ means to remain in close relationship with him. A branch stays alive only when it stays connected to the vine. In the same way, spiritual life continues only as we depend on Jesus. Abiding is not about earning our place with God, but about living in daily fellowship with him through prayer, obedience, worship, and trust. It is not a one-time act but a way of life.

Jesus said plainly, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” Just as an unplugged device loses power, a believer who tries to live apart from Christ loses spiritual strength. When we rely on him, his life flows through us, producing good fruit. This fruit is seen in changed attitudes, behaviour, and character. As branches of Christ’s vine, we begin to reflect his likeness.

Another result of abiding is visible discipleship. Jesus said that when we bear much fruit, we show that we are truly his disciples and bring glory to God. Every act of faithfulness, whether serving others, forgiving someone, or obeying God’s Word, shows the world who we belong to. The goal is never to draw attention to ourselves but to honour the Father who gives life to the vine.

Abiding also allows us to experience Christ’s love. Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” His love is not temporary or limited. It is as strong and deep as the love between the Father and the Son. When we keep his commands, we live within that love. Obedience does not earn God’s love, but it helps us stay aware of it. Obedience leads to joy because it keeps us close to the One who loves us most.

Finally, abiding leads to complete joy. Jesus said he spoke these words so that his joy would be in us and our joy would be full. His joy is not shallow or temporary. It remains even in pain. When we stay close to him, we find a deep and lasting peace that cannot be taken away.

The Christian life is not about doing everything right on our own. It is about staying connected to the One who gives life.

Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

John 15:4