September 18, 2023
Understanding Abiding
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:7-9 (NASB)
When I was young I used to get into fights consistently. Most of the time I let my anger get the best of me. After years of looking back, I realized how foolish it was. There were times when a fight was necessary. It was to stand my ground. One day, a friend of mine disrespected a girl each of us wanted to date. I told him to apologize. He wouldn’t. He told me to go away and leave him alone. I couldn’t, after seeing the look on her face. He scared her. I asked him a second time to apologize. He wouldn’t and then pushed me. Well, a fight began. I couldn’t run. I had to stand up for the girl (plus, I would be her hero). I knew what was coming. I couldn’t back down. In the end, I knocked a couple of teeth out of my friend’s mouth. He quit. After a few days, he apologized to the girl. I knew the battle was coming but in the end, I had to stand with courage for her sake. It was the right thing to do. She never took interest in me to my dismay…
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you…” Three senses of the word “abide,” are mentioned in this verse. The first thing we need to understand is the definition of Jesus’ word “abide” or menō; a verb meaning to stay, abide, or remain.[1] It has three senses (or categories) that add meaning to the word. First, it means to continue or “go up,”. In Jesus’ usage of this word, He would make sure the disciples would continue in Him, and allow His words to abide in them by going up (an action) for Christ in sharing the gospel. Second, it appears in the sense of continuing: as standing forChrist (an action), and in their relationship with Christ. This meant when the times came that were tough (and they were coming), they were to take a stand for Jesus Christ. Third, continuing: to endure or withstand with courage (an action) what was ahead. It is easy to take a stand for Christ, but when hard times came it would reveal their true abiding in Christ. A time was coming when each of the disciples would pay with their lives for the gospel. Their courage is an example for you and me today. It is possible to stand with courage in the face of death. “… ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Robertson says, “This astounding command and promise, it will come to pass is not without conditions and limitations. It involves such intimate union and harmony with Christ that nothing will be asked out of accord with the mind of Christ and so of the Father.”[2] This union with Christ is prayer. As we pray, we abide. As we abide, we pray more and more deeply. We think like God. This is the blessing of communion with God.
When we ask God for whatever we wish, is not a free ticket to whatever we want, but asking for those things which are in keeping with God’s will. When we pray and become closer to God, we realize this world doesn’t satisfy the heart. Communing with God in our prayers conforms to the Father’s will. “Since his prayer is in accord with God’s will, the results are certain—it will be given to you”[3] How does your “abiding” look today? It is God or self-centered?
[1] Thomas, R. L. (1998). In New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Foundation Publications, Inc.
[2] Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Jn 15:7). Broadman Press.
[3] Blum, E. A. (1985). John. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 326). Victor Books.