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Abiding in Christ, May 19
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.
John 15:4
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As the severed branch, leafless, and apparently lifeless, is ingrafted
into the living stock, and, fiber by fiber, and vein by vein, drinks in the
life and strength of the vine until it buds and blossoms and bears fruit,
even so may the sinner, by repentance and faith, connect himself with
Christ, become a partaker of the divine nature, and bring forth in words
and deeds the fruit of a holy life.
Jesus “has life in himself,” and this life He offers to impart freely, to
souls that are dead in trespasses and sins. Yea, He shares with them His
purity, His honor, and exaltation.... The sapless branch, ingrafted into
the living vine, becomes a part of the vine. It lives while united to the
vine. So the Christian lives by virtue of his union with Christ. The sinful
and human is linked to the holy and divine. The believing soul abides in
Christ, and becomes one with Him. When persons are closely united in
the relations of this life, their tastes become similar, they come to love the
same things. So those who abide in Christ will love the things which He
loves. They will sacredly cherish and obey His commandments....
The vine-branch, nourished from the parent stock, becomes flourishing
and fruitful. Its rich and fragrant clusters attest its union with the living
vine. So the Christian, abiding in Jesus, will bring forth fruit. In character
and life will be manifested, like the teeming cluster of the vine, the
precious graces of the Spirit,—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance....
Resolve that you will be fruit-bearing members of the living Vine. The
scion can flourish only as it receives life and strength from the parent stock.
Improve, then, every opportunity to connect yourselves more closely with
Christ. It is by believing Him, loving Him, copying Him, and depending
wholly upon Him, that you are to become one with Him; and through you
His life and character will be revealed to the world.
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