Every day, I charge my phone. I plug it into a source of power, usually a wall electrical socket, and in a few hours, it is full of life. I remove it from the attached cord and go about my day to use the many features of this amazing device.

Too often I treat my spiritual life the same way. I refuel every morning (or at least as often as possible) through a study of the Bible or a devotional reading. But then I act like I’m an electronic device and I unplug, trusting in my fuel to get me through the day.

But the Lord Jesus himself has told me to constantly abide in him (Jn 15:4). The apostle John reiterates this concept over and over again in his writing as well. This word—meno in Greek— appears 22 times in his short letter of 1 John. It is also translated as “remain, continue, or live” and means “to not depart, to continue to be present.” It speaks to connection, dependence, and continuance.

We are instructed to abide in the Father and the Son (1 Jn 2:24), the light (1 Jn 2:10), his word (Jn 8:31), and his love (Jn 15:9). Conversely the word of God (1 Jn 2:14), eternal life (1 Jn 3:15), the truth (the teaching of the apostles and Jesus) (1 Jn 2:24, 27, 2 Jn 1:2,9), and God’s seed (1 Jn 3:9) abide in us.

What does it mean practically to abide in Jesus?

John introduces this concept in his gospel using the illustration of a vine in the garden. When a branch is continually connected to a vine, it draws nourishment and life from that vine and thus produces fruit. (Jn 15:1–5)

Abiding, therefore, is being connected to Jesus constantly. It means I stick with him. I remain close to him. I stay in the faith. Up until the very end. I maintain my relationship with him through regular communication and time spent together. I stay present to him.

Spending time with an invisible God looks like reading the Bible, praying, journaling, having spiritual conversations with others, worshipping him, taking nature walks, and learning from others on the same journey.

This doesn’t mean I’m super close to him every moment every day. But it does mean I’m on a general trajectory toward him. I check in with him regularly, ask questions, seek his will, and invite him into every decision and important task.

How can we tell if we are abiding?

When we abide in Christ …

• … we are his disciples (Jn 8:31)
• … we will produce fruit (Jn 15:4-5)
• … our prayers are answered (Jn 15:7)
• … we keep his commands (Jn 15:10, 1 Jn 3:24)
• … we walk as Jesus did (1 Jn 2:6)
• … we love, not hate, our fellow believers (1 Jn 2:10, 3:14–15, 4:12)
• … we overcome the evil one (1 Jn 2:14)
• … we retain the truth (1 Jn 2:24, 27, 2 Jn 1:9)
• … we will be confident and unashamed when he comes (1 Jn 2:28)
• … we maintain a lifestyle of righteousness, not sin (1 Jn 3:6, 9)
• … we acknowledge Jesus is Son of God (1 Jn 4:15)
• … we abide in love (1 Jn 4:16)

Abiding in Jesus is only possible because his Holy Spirit abides in us!

And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us … By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

1 John 3:24, 4:13 NKJV

Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us we are never fully disconnected from God. However, we can choose to “unplug” and not pay attention to him. To not let him fill us, to not go to scripture for our nourishment, talk to him, or stick with him. Let’s be mindful to intentionally abide in him.

In what ways might you abide in him?

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for being the vine that connects me to the Father, my gardener. Holy Spirit, teach me to abide in you as you dwell in me and fill me with yourself.