Abide

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. - John 15:4

What are your stress responses? We all have them. I certainly do. When the pressure rises, or the dreams fade, when crisis encroaches on our life, what do we turn to?

It would be easy here to beat the old drum of alcohol abuse, and by all means, it is a common stress response. But there are more vices to beware, many more acceptable than a single malt scotch laying empty beside your bed.

When the stress rises, often, so does my work-load. When I feel control slipping away, it is then that I am most tempted to fight to regain it. And what better way to fight than to re-double my efforts, put in longer hours, raise the expectations on others, and lean heavily on my ability to get us through?

The problem is, none of those responses resemble abiding in the least!

Whatever your crisis is, and whatever you are then most tempted to turn to, unless it is Christ, you are doomed. Doomed to a life of fruitless effort, and frustrated ambition.

Christ bids us come and abide in him, to shelter in him, to find our rest and satisfaction in him. Then, and only then, will the fruit of a life found in Christ ripen on the vine.