God’s Presence in our Present

Whenever I read Jesus’ description of what it means to abide, where He is the true vine, we are the branches, and the heavenly Father as the vine grower (John 15:1-5), my mind races to understand it’s meaning for my present reality.

Such a calm and serene scene bears little resemblance to the noisy activity surrounding my life.

What we need to understand is that abiding in Christ never takes us out of the daily activities and moments making up this life. Instead it brings the divine reality of God’s presence into our present realities. It’s where we become increasingly aware of God’s presence residing within us.

We abide by looking to God, turning our hearts toward Him, asking Him to allow us to see what He’s seeing, and to feel what He’s feeling in what’s going on around us. It’s seeing the spiritual realities of everyday events.

The benefit of abiding is we receive God’s grace and love, not to mention a renewed sense of His purpose for our lives, along with an infusion of supernatural energy.

Abiding in Christ affects our work and responsibilities.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NKJV).

Abiding in Christ affects our eternal life.

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6 NKJV).

Abiding in Christ also directly affects our communication with God.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7 NKJV).

When we abide in Christ we tap into His protection, strength, guidance, and presence. Abiding in Christ is the joy of being fully in His presence while still in the midst of our present.