Let me start by disarming you.
This is a safe space, a level playing field. No one knows how much or how little you read your bible, no one knows how easy or hard it is for you to want to spend time with Jesus, no one knows how much or how little you pray, and no one knows that you're struggling to care. We are all have our own personal relationships with Jesus.
But there might be a problem: We don't spend quality time with Jesus every day. Either:
we don't want to, or
we don't know how to.
We are just surviving. We are just trying to make it from one day to the next. We're not doing great, but we're here. You feel it.
Or maybe you've got a pretty good routine down, you're finally settling in, you hear from God daily—but you want to take it further. You don't want it to get stale.
There is something available for all of us, no matter how good or bad we feel about our time with Jesus.
"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
John 10:10b ESV
There is more for us. This life with Jesus is more—more than you expect, more than you imagine, more than you hope.
The word "abundantly" in Greek means "super abundant; superior; excessive." There is an excessive life waiting for you in Jesus.
The root word is the same as:
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us"
Ephesians 3:20 ESV
But it means "far beyond, so much more than."
So how do we find the more? How do we access it?
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:4-11 ESV
"Abide" is written 10 times in these verses—it's important.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
I feel this in a real way: "apart from me you can do nothing…"
How's it going trying to do it on your own right now? Not well?
We all want to bear fruit. We want to be productive. We want to be useful. We want to be used by God.
When we are just scraping by, trying to survive, there comes a point when we realize we can't do it.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
That's tough...
But this verse is mainly referring to the one who never "abides": someone who didn't remain in the end was likely never with Jesus to begin with.
A fruitless life is not a believing life.
On the flip side, as a believer, fruit is inevitable if we remain.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
The key words here are "my words": When we are abiding in Christ and His words are in us, we don't magically get whatever we want like some sort of biblical genie. But we get what His heart desires for us. The better stuff.
To do this requires obedience and prayer. We accept that His Word is final, true, and authoritative, so we follow it. And we stay in contact with Him in prayer.
As long as you are obeying and seeking God's will for your life in conversation with Him, He will grant every request that would help accomplish that will.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
And that's where the fruit comes from.
He wants you to bear fruit!
We are recognized by our fruit (Mt. 7:20)
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
Jesus gave us the perfect example of how to abide.
It's obedience to God out of a response to His love for us.
Obedience guarantees fruit. It guarantees success. God doesn't want us to fail. Have you thought about that? He wants you to win. He wants your obedience so that you can succeed.
That, in turn, brings joy.
11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Joy automatically comes when we realize that abiding in Christ and walking in obedience brings fruit.
It's then we realize that we could've never done any of this on our own.
Isn’t that what we want? A little joy to begin with would be nice, but that it would be full: complete, lacking nothing.
I want my joy to be full. I want to abide as closely as possible so that I don't miss a thing that He wants for me.
To bear fruit...you must abide (v. 4)
To grow in grace...you must abide (v. 5-6)
To know God’s will….you must abide (v. 7-10)
To have joy...you must abide (v. 11)
The secret to "more" is abiding in Jesus.
We cannot abide in Christ without a knowledge and love of His word. Not a respect or familiarity, but a devoted, disciplined love.
Here’s what I’m not talking about:
#1 - a quick-fix approach
“I’m feeling sad. Let’s look up a verse for that...”
“I’m worried. Let’s find a story about that...”
The problem: This approach makes the bible a book about me. But it’s not a book about me, it’s a book about God. His word can absolutely encourage you in those times, but it's so much more than a quick verse to post on your story when your feelings are hurt.
#2 - a magical approach
“I wonder if I should marry this guy or take this job...flip it open, and point my finger to a verse...”
The problem: The bible isn’t a magic 8 ball or fortune cookie. We don't get answers to those questions in a single verse. God guides us as we get to know Him more through the whole of His word.
#3 - a topical-only approach
“I want to learn about balance, dealing with my emotions, rising above doubt, etc., so let’s find a study that addresses that...”
The problem: These studies can only supplement our own foundational knowledge of scripture by attaching scripture to a topic rather than addressing a topic that arises in scripture. There is a place for this! Don't throw out your Beth Moore. But it doesn't need to be the only way you consume God's word.
#4 - a favorites approach
“Most of the New Testament is good and some Psalms, but don’t ask me to read anything out of the Old Testament...”
“I’m well-versed in Paul's letters, but that’s about it...”
The problem: “All scripture is God-breathed and profitable...” There is so much to gain from Old Testament prophets, Ecclesiastes, Revelation, and all of what God designed to go into this book.
We've all done these, and some even have their time and place within a larger scope of study. But we are missing out on so much of God if we treat His word this way.
Instead, there are some tools we can use every day, no matter what passage we're reading, to help us abide. We all want it to be practical. We need questions to ask, words to look for, and help in transitioning from reading to application.
Here's a quick and easy place to start:
