Abide to Thrive

“As we abide, our lives will thrive.”

Not too long ago, I read a devotional that took me through several crucial verses in John 15. It was also a reminder of the word I had chosen months ago, to ponder on over the course of this year: abide. In this chapter, Jesus urges us to abide in Him and explains why we must do so: apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:4-5). What a profound statement! It really says it all: Jesus is the one who gives life and the ability to live it (John 3:16, 14:6, 15:5).

Looking back at chapter 14, Jesus talks about the Father abiding in Him (John 14:10). Then several verses later, the Holy Spirit is mentioned as abiding in believers (14:16-17). To abide, according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary definition, means “to remain stable or fixed in a state” as well as “to continue in a place.” We abide by remaining fixed to Christ; He permeates all that we say and do. Our aim becomes to glorify the Father in everything, just as Jesus did (John 17:1-5). As we continue in Him, through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, we will produce the fruit necessary to spiritually thrive; this is how believers live truly abundant lives (John 10:7-10, 14:26; Galatians 5:22-23, 25).

One thing I have come to understand better over the years is that the Bible doesn’t just include commands for us to follow, but a lifestyle for us to live. As followers of Christ, we model Jesus’ example; the Holy Spirit works in us and through us to be born anew and then live differently as new creations in Him (Matthew 16:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 1:23). The true and ultimate life remedy is Christ—as we abide, our lives will thrive.