Abide in Me

a·bide[uh-bahyd]  verb, a·bode or a·bid·ed, a·bid·ing.

1. to dwell; rest; continue; stand firm

In the 15th chapter of John, the Savior bids...

4- Abide in me and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, 

except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  

5- I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in me, and I in  him, 

the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me ye can do nothing.

6- If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered and men 

gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

  Christ is the true vine.  He is the source of life here and now, and life everlasting.  Whether we recognize it to be the case or not, the reality is, that as branches, if we are not connected to Him... we cannot live.  Without Him, the lost soul withers and dies. 

How does one abide in Him and receive of His life giving sustenance?

The Savior continues...

10- If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love; even as I have 

kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

11- These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might 

remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

The Savior's invites us to live in harmony with Him (keep His commandments) so that we can dwell in Him and receive His joy.  How does this work?

Christ is our older brother.  As children of God, each of us have the very essence of our Father within us.  In our core... we are like Him.  When we live in harmony with Him we live in harmony with our true selves.  When we live contrary to His law, we live contrary to our own soul, becoming a house divided against itself.  Our ability (or lack thereof) to comprehend, accept, or believe this truth does not effect it's reality!  This is why there is no internal peace for the lost soul.  This is why worldly pursuits are filled with scarcity leaving the seeker empty and searching for the next endeavor.  

As we learn to abide in the Savior, we find that in Him lie sufficiency, peace and rest.  A distant memory is illuminated within our spirit and we come to recognize that in deed we have found our home.  In Him we find strength, purpose and vision to fill the measure of our creation.  We begin to see ourselves the way the Father sees us... which expands our view of each individual with whom we associate.  Our desire to love and to serve grows and we begin to produce the promised fruit of the Savior.  This abundance fills the soul with joy to overflowing.  This is the fullness He promises if we will but abide in Him!

What a gift!  What a privilege it is!... to dwell, to rest, to continue in and to stand firm in the Savior, Jesus Christ!