Yesterday, Pastor Stephanie shared how we are vessels for God’s glory. We are given permission and entrusted to carry His glory. What a profound gift. But what does it require of us to be vessels of His glory? To abide in Him.

Abiding is a central theme in today’s passage, in John 15:4-5. My heart was also drawn to it is Psalm 1 as a cross reference.

In John 15:1, 4–5, Jesus says,

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing.”

Psalm 1:1–3 echoes this same life-giving reality:

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Fruitfulness is always connected to the health of the roots. In the Psalms, we see that when roots are connected to living water, the tree bears fruit in every season. It thrives because it abides in a constant source of life. Whether through drought or harsh weather, a tree that remains connected to its source does not compromise the quality of what it produces.

When our lives are rooted in Christ, He becomes our true source of life, our Living Water. We do not have to strive, but simply abide. As Pastor Stephanie said so beautifully yesterday, our availability is not about doing more for God, but about making room for Him.

Likewise, in John 15, the imagery of the vine, branches, and Gardener speaks directly to abiding. If you have ever seen a vineyard, you know the vine and branches belong together. They are not separate entities, but one plant, fully connected. The health of that connection is what produces the grapes. The visible fruit is the result of careful, attentive tending by the gardener. In the right season, the plant submits to pruning as dead areas are removed, growth is shaped, and nourishment is supplied. In the same way, when we remain in Jesus, fully connected as one with Him, the outward fruit of our lives becomes evident (see John 15:11–12; Galatians 5:22–23).

Here is a fascinating detail about vines. In the spring, right after pruning, sap often seeps from the cut ends of the vine. This happens because pressure has built up from the roots, and the good nutrients are ready to be distributed to the rest of the plant. The vine is waking up, and life is flowing again. That sap carries water, minerals, and sugars to the rest of the plant. It is a visible sign that the vine is alive and rich with sustaining life. The pruning is incredibly valuable and health for the plant.

Over the course of this fast, many of us have experienced the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit awakening us as He prunes our lives. Jesus has a remarkable way of drawing us back to His original design for abundant life. A life that abides is a life fully surrendered to Jesus. When we see the fruit of abiding and recognize the nourishment that comes from our Sustainer and Gardener, why would we desire anything less than full surrender to that pruning?

My prayer for you today is that we choose to abide in You, Jesus. Let Your glory flow like sap through the branches of our lives, producing fruit we could never create on our own.

All my love,

Pastor Adina