Residing in Abiding: Three Ways to Remain in God’s Love

Let’s be honest: this world provides many reasons to live unlovingly. It does not take us long to flip on the television, scroll Facebook, or listen to a podcast to know all the turmoil, betrayals, and animosity before us today. While this may sound hopeless, the beauty we have as believers in Christ is this is not the end of our story. Residing in abiding allows us to experience and remain God’s love, a love that conquers all.

Residing in Abiding

I have been studying John 15. It is the beautiful imagery of the Vinedresser sharing with his disciples the difficult path of a faithful life of service. The entire context of this passage develops the evidence of a true disciple. And this development is a continual action. Bob Utley states that biblical reflection of true discipleship is perseverance of faith, a lifestyle of repentance, ongoing obedience, and fruit bearing.  

However, fruit-bearing is no easy feat. If we are to abide in Christ we recognize that our spirit is inseparably linked to our continuing relationship with Jesus. It is a continual fellowship with Him. As we abide in him continually, we receive the strength to bear the fruit God calls each of us to grow: justice, righteousness, peace, Christ-likeness, love, etc. Moreover, as we reside in our abiding, our relationship grows more intimate with Christ. We are able to “ask whatever you wish” because we remain dependent on the Holy Spirit and desire the heart of God aligning "our ask” with the heart of God (John 15:7).

Lastly, John 15:9 captured my attention as I considered this notion of residing in abiding. Abide in this verse is used to convey a command or request. Abide in previous verses of John 15 is used to convey a potential action. However, it becomes a command. And this command is followed by love.

Residing in abiding is not just doing what God says; it is an unselfish, willful devotion type of love that the Greeks disdained, but God edifies. It mirrors the character of Christ. This is not an easy task. But if we want to experience fruit bearing discipleship, it is a necessary to abide and love in and through Christ.

Remaining in God’s Love

Living in this world teaches us daily the practice of God’s love. We have had the pleasure of experiencing betrayals, heartaches, and more. And, in our humanity, we most likely have conjured all the things we want to say and do to exact our revenge. However, as we abide in Christ and remain in His love, we choose to bear fruit rather than bear weapons (i.e. revenge, hate, etc). Again, residing in abiding is not easy, but here are few ways to remain in God’s love so that we may “bear much fruit” (John 15:8).

1)        Name the Hurt

There is a misnomer that if we say we are hurt or name our betrayal that we are not living joyfully or are holding onto bitterness. God permits us to feel. Hiding our feelings does not equal abiding. In fact, that is what can produce fruits of bitterness. Instead, when we name our hurt, we can remain in the Father allowing him to heal us.

Naming our hurt may look like grieving, lamenting, or healthy confrontation. The key is that even in naming our hurt, we can remain in Christ. We can call hurt for what it is and know that we can find rest for our hurting, weary souls. Our humanity, our pain, does not make us less like Christ; it bears his image. He felt more emotion than we can conjure. Therefore, in our grief, our lament, and other practices, we can still remain in Christ and bear fruit.

2)        Letting God lead

Some of the hardest moments we may have is when we experience hurt from others and silence is our fruit. This does not mean we do not name our hurt personally. This may mean that speaking to the individual or organization is not what God desires. He sees what we cannot; he may know that us speaking to them only leads to more harm for us or that in our hurt we will speak harm to them. Neither are okay.

I have recently learned that silence does have a fruit-bearing purpose. I was at an event where my voice was not honored. To ensure my own safety, I chose to remain silent. At first, I was mad. I do not like having my voice or choice revoked. However, as time passed, God revealed to me that my silence during this event was fruit-bearing. First, in following God’s lead, I noticed was I was not spewing my hurt or harm on anyone. Secondly, I was able to observe and witness how behaviors of some were impacting others, and I could speak truth to those experiencing that pain.

In my humanity, I would rather have said what I felt and thought. But we as believers are called to abide continually, not intermittently. Letting God lead allows can be a pruning process, but it allows us to remain in Him and bear fruit.

 3)          Loving Well

Agape love as noted in John 15:9 is a love that bears the image of Christ. It is the type of love that Austin Precept notes, “gives even when wronged, serves even when forgotten, and forgives even when wounded.” It is a sacrificial love. Additionally, it is love of choice. It serves in humility and is the highest kind of love. It is this love with which Christ loves us, and we are called to love others.

Let us understand, though, agape love does not call us to be doormats, ignore boundaries, or tolerate toxic and abusive people or environments. Loving well may mean I detach from people and environments or set boundaries. Sacrificial love does not call us to enable harmful behaviors; rather it calls us to still love and set boundaries, love and detach, love and be firm with kindness.

We can love well, even from afar if necessary. We can both show the love of Christ and take care of ourselves healthily, even if it means walking away from people or environments.

Final Thoughts

Residing in abiding is a continual process that produces “much fruit” when we remain in Christ. Abiding is not something within our own strength that we can do. It requires pruning and constant nutrients. The only way we can bear fruit is to remain connected to the true Vine—receiving life, sustenance, and direction from Him. Fruitfulness is not the reward for spiritual performance but the natural outcome of dependence and obedience in Christ. When we release our hurt and let God lead, it is then that we love well and stay rooted in Christ’s presence allowing us “bear much fruit and prove to be My disciples” (John 15:8).

Reflection

1) Read John 15. List ways you can abide in Christ

2) Is it hard for you to abide in Christ? If so, how? If not, what enables you to abide?

3) Review the three ways you can remain in God’s love. What other ways would you add?