I’ve been thinking about this lately: sometimes people say, “I’m a Christian,” but their life does not really show a commitment to following Christ. And I say that with humility, because all of us have areas where we need to grow. But Jesus never taught that abiding in Him was just about claiming a title. Abiding in Christ means staying connected to Him, trusting Him, listening to His Word, and letting His teachings shape the way we live.
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). That picture is simple but powerful. A branch cannot just say it is connected to the vine; it has to actually remain connected in order to live and bear fruit. In the same way, our faith should show up in our lives.
Jesus also said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). That does not mean we will get everything right or live perfectly. But it does mean our hearts should be surrendered to Him. If we are truly abiding in Christ, we should not be comfortable ignoring His teachings while still claiming His name.
The Bible says, “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked” (1 John 2:6). That is a clear reminder that if we say we belong to Jesus, our lives should be moving in His direction. We should be growing in love, humility, forgiveness, holiness, and obedience.
Minister A Francine Green, August 2026