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AbideJohn 15:1-5“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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.”The pace many Christians and pastors set for themselves and their church members these days can be tense. It is a nervous age we live in. We feel like we have to be doing something in order to get something done for God and for God to be pleased with us. Have we forgotten the exhortation of our Lord in John 15 to abide in Him? Our duty is not to strain and run at a feverish pace but to simply abide in Him. That takes time, and effort, and stillness. It takes leaving the burdens and cares of life and drawing from Jesus Christ all the strength and wisdom we need. Total dependence upon Him for life. Abiding in Christ identifies us with Him. Abiding in Christ is the way He designed that we bear fruit. The way to abide in Christ is through His Word (John 15:7) and abiding in His Word is the way to answered prayer. It is through abiding in Christ that we get the most done for Him. When we abide in Christ, there is the potential for us to bear much fruit (John 15:8), and glorify our Heavenly Father.To me, when Jesus says to abide, He does not say run. He says slow down, get in my Word, let my Word abide in you, let me purge out the dead and fruitless areas of your life. Through me you will bear much fruit. Oh how the church needs a revival of abiding in Jesus Christ!