Cultivation | Tuesday | 10/27

Make Your Home in His Love

John 15:6–11 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and in this way prove that you are my disciples.

⁹ “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete.

Jesus tells His disciples to abide in Him.

It's a beautiful word.

To abide means to remain. To dwell. To make your home somewhere.

Jesus isn't simply asking His disciples to visit Him occasionally.

He's inviting them to make their home in His love.

And there's an important difference.

We can treat our relationship with Jesus like something we occasionally stop by when we need encouragement, direction, or comfort.

But abiding is something deeper.

It's an ongoing relationship that shapes the ordinary rhythms of our lives.

We abide as we pray, read Scripture, worship, listen to Jesus' words, and follow His example.

We abide as we learn to recognize His presence in ordinary moments.

And we abide as we allow His love to shape the way we live.

Jesus says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love.”

Abiding isn't simply doing nothing. It's learning to live our entire lives in relationship with Christ.

And as we remain in His love, His life begins to transform ours.

Reflect: 

What does abiding in Christ look like in your ordinary daily routines? Where might you make more room to recognize His presence?

Pray: 

Jesus, teach me to make my home in your love. Let my relationship with you become more than an occasional activity. Shape my thoughts, decisions, relationships, and habits as I learn to remain in you. Amen.