Abide In His Love, Joy, And Peace

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.

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.

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.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

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.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

                                                                                      (John 14:4-12 KJV)

I do believe that fruitful means a whole lot of different things to those who abide in Christ and those who do not. 

In this world fruitful appears to me to mean how fast we can destroy our enemies; how much havoc we can create for others even if it means lying and cheating to get our personal agendas fulfilled. But, to those who abide in Christ it means something more like bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God to all people that we might all live life in love, joy and in the peace that only the abiding presence of Christ can bring. 

To those who abide in Christ, it is not our personal agendas; but, the will of God that produces good fruit. Abiding in Christ and he in us produces much fruit.

May the abiding presence of our Lord Jesus the Christ bring you much peace!

God's Peace - Pr. J.