stephen R Harrison

JOY 365: Day 11

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. -John 15:11

I got to preach about abiding in Jesus today from John 15. Sometimes, we’re so obsessed with spiritual fruit. It is true that abiding in Jesus produces spiritual fruit. We will have it if we spend time with Him. We can be so obsessed with the fruit. We focus too much on whether it is big enough, better than before, enough quantity, etc.? We must be obsessed with spending time with Jesus. He will take care of the fruit! Jesus said if we abide in Him, the fruit will be love, joy, and obedience. Time spent in His Word will cleanse us. Time spent in prayer will end up in answered prayer (also a fruit of abiding). 

What does it mean to abide in His presence? It isn’t achieved through a mystical experience. It isn’t chasing a spiritual high. Jesus came to us (John 1:14). We connect to God through Jesus by His Spirit. I love John 13-17. It’s Jesus’ upper room discourse and intimate time spent with His disciples before the cross, resurrection, and ascension. John 15 tells us we can have the joy that not only comes from Jesus, but that IS Jesus. We don’t have to chase it. We simply must abide in Him. We don’t add Jesus to our lives. He doesn’t want to be a supplement. He is the source! If we love Him, we will spend time with Him, think about His Word, talk to Him, and do things with Him (obey His Word and will). Thank you, Jesus, for your abiding presence.

Are you abiding in Jesus daily? What is the result (fruit)?