by Robin Camu
John 15:4-5 (NASB):
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
The Greek work for Abide is meno (MEE-know) and one of its definitions is “to be present”. We think that abiding in the vine means using it as a source of peace, joy and love when we are in need. But Jesus knows that we also need pain, discipline and sometimes suffering to shape us into the likeness of His image. If we can experience the negative events and emotions from the vine non-judgmentally (i.e. not assigning intent or meaning) by disconnecting our mind (centering prayer can help with this), we can just be present to Jesus and allow Him to work in us without disconnecting from the vine.
Have a listen.
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