Presented by Julie Busteed

The topic has been abiding—remaining in Christ—and why it’s important and what the blessings and consequences are for us. How do you continue to remain in Christ?

Gem Fadling shared a beautiful picture in one of our Zoom gatherings about what it means to remain—or abide—in Christ. She said to imagine a teacup or mug, and then a pitcher. And the pitcher is over the teacup pouring into the cup continuously. You and I are the teacup. Jesus—through the Holy Spirit—is the pitcher.

When we are abiding in Jesus, his Spirit is continually pouring into us and filling us. But the way I often operate is this: once I feel “full”—after spending time reading Scripture, praying, studying, or memorizing—I go about my day and pour myself out into my work, church, and family. Before long, I find myself exhausted and empty again. Then I rush back to reset and refill from his Word.

But that’s not what abiding is meant to look like.

The teacup isn’t supposed to move away from the pitcher and come back only when it runs dry. It needs to stay under the steady pour—remaining, receiving, staying connected. When we live that way, we don’t pour out from our limited strength. Instead, our cup overflows with Christ’s love, and that overflow is what pours into our work and relationships.

Abiding is not about exhausting ourselves or trying to do everything on our own. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” We need to stay connected—letting God’s Word, his love, and communion with him continually pour into us. When we remain in him, we are filled, strengthened, and able to bear much fruit without becoming depleted.

We abide. We remain. And he fills. Don’t forget to keep your cup positioned under the pitcher. When you remain filled, it’s the overflow that naturally blesses others.