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

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

This famous passage is often quoted and preached, and for good reason, for myself, the concept of abiding in Christ is really the essence of the Christian experience. Early in my Christian life I was introduced to a book by Andrew Murray titled, “In Christ”. This book had a deep impact on the way I approached living as a Christian. I don’t remember how I came to possess this book, and I had no idea at the time it was considered a “Christian Classic”, I just read it. I had no theological background to hold it up against I didn’t even know who Andrew Murray was. But as I read that book and tried to apply it I saw something there I had never seen before. I experienced Jesus in a way that I never knew previously. Prior to that, my Christianity was more of a knowledge about Jesus than a knowledge of Jesus.

So I would like to take a couple of weeks to look at the concept of living “in Christ” and the best place to start is in this simple analogy that Jesus gave us in John 15. Jesus paints this image for his disciples to teach them that He is the source of life not just a source of knowledge. Everything we are and do flows from Him. He is the vine and we are the branches, a branch disconnected is a dead branch. The imagery is simple but the conclusion is powerful, apart from me you can do nothing.

Many would look at this passage and immediately take off on a theological and christological flight to explain the mechanics of this relationship. I would be more than happy to just live in the reality of that relationship and I think you would too. So for today I want to leave you with a quote from Andrew Murray’s wonderful book and think about what living “in Christ” looks like from moment to moment.

And to all who desire to learn the blessed art of living only a moment at a time, we want to say: the way to learn it is to exercise yourself in living in the present moment. Each time your attention is free to occupy itself with the thought of Jesus - whether it be with time to think and pray, or only a few passing seconds - let your first thought be to say: Now at this moment, I do abide in Jesus.

Use such time, not in vain regrets that you have not been abiding fully, or still more hurtful fears that you will not be able to abide, but just at once take the position the Father has given you: "I am in Christ; this is the place God has given me. I accept it; here I rest; I do now abide in Jesus."

This is the way to learn to abide continually. You may be yet so feeble as to fear to say of each day, "I am abiding in Jesus ;" but the feeblest can, each single moment, say, as he consents to occupy his place as a branch in the vine, "Yes, I do abide in Christ." It is not a matter of feeling,—it is not a question of growth or strength in the Christian life,— it is the simple question whether the will at the present moment desires and consents to recognize the place you have in your Lord, and to accept of it. If you are a believer, you are in Christ. If you are in Christ, and wish to stay there, it is your duty to say, though it be but for a moment, "Blessed Saviour, I abide in Thee now; Thou keepest me now."

(Andrew Murray, In Christ: chp.15)

I pray that the reality of Christ in you will encourage you to rest in that truth today.

Have a great week!