“Abide in Me.”
How do we “choose better”?
Making the better choice is being like Mary when she sat at Jesus’ feet. We tend, however, to be more like Martha, being pulled away by a myriad of distractions. (Luke 10:38-42)
One who masters choosing better has learned to sift through the distractions and recognize the Spirit leading to what is best.
But…
How do we “choose better”?
The key is “sitting at Jesus’ feet” (Luke 10:39). Choosing better means making time to be with Jesus, to allow Him to lead us, teach us, and grow us. Being one of His disciples is a process—a lifetime of following, learning, and growing. As we make room in our hectic lives to be discipled or “sit at Jesus’ feet,” we will learn how to choose better.
Jesus explained the “choose better” concept using a grapevine analogy. Our Rabbi called Himself the “true grapevine,” and we, His disciples, are His “branches.”
I am the true grapevine… Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me, you can do nothing. (John 15:1, 4-5, NRSV)
Jesus, the grapevine. We, the disciples. Sitting at His feet. Making the better choice. How does it all work together?
Staying Connected
The vine is the plant’s source, the lifeline for the branches to grow as long as they stay attached to the vine. A critical connection must be maintained between a Rabbi and a disciple. “Because apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Jesus will help us make the better choice, but we must stay connected to Him.
Jesus used the word abide 12 times in his teaching about the grapevine and the branches. The Greek word for abide is “meno,” meaning to remain, stay, or be continually present. Consider a lifetime of being continually present with Jesus regardless of where you are or what you are doing. Remaining in His presence continually is the connection that empowers us to make the better choice.
The grapevine and branch analogy depicts what “sitting at Jesus’ feet” looks like. Abiding is a discipleship program in which we continually stay connected to Jesus, grow, and are empowered to handle distractions.
How do we abide?
We abide when we practice daily spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, time in God’s Word, and other supportive disciplines, that grow our prayer life and understanding of God’s Word. Supportive spiritual disciplines like:
- Prayer, fasting, and listening.
- Study, meditation, and memorization of God’s Word.
- Community with other believers.
- Worship.
- Silence and solitude.
- Journaling.
- A word for the year.
We must stay focused on abiding in, remaining in, and continually being present with Jesus. Our world will always offer viable distractions, but abiding in Christ will keep us at Jesus’ feet, where we can learn to navigate the world’s wildness.
I pray God will enlighten your eyes to the spiritual disciplines that will help you abide in Him. May you continually grow in various spiritual disciplines. May your ability to listen and hear God, along with your willingness to practice returning to the feet of Jesus, keep you choosing better. So be it, in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: Jesus abides in me.
Reflect: What spiritual disciplines do you have in your life that you want to continue? What spiritual disciplines do you want to try? Why is the role of listening important in abiding?
Deeper: (As you read these additional verses, ask the Spirit to give you wisdom and teach you more about what abiding looks like for you.). John 15:1–17, Luke 10:38-42, Colossians 3:12-17, 4:2
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(Bible References: NRSV – New Revised Standard Version)
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