John 15:4
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.

Last week you discovered the power in the identity of Jesus Christ. This week I want us to explore how we start to develop our identity in Jesus Christ and receive the freedom and power that God tells us we have through Jesus.

In some translations of John 15:4 the word abide is used. Abide in me and I will abide in you. I feel the word abide gives us more meaning and fullness of what Jesus is talking about in the above verse.

The definition of abide is to accept or act in accordance. It means to obey, observe, follow, hold to and stick to.

As Christians we are to continue to grow and become more Christ-like (Romans 9:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 John 3:2) therefore having our self-identity in Jesus Christ is paramount.

We attain that self-identity by reading God’s Word and doing what He says is right and stop doing what He says is wrong.

If we want our identity in Jesus, we must abide in Him therefore we must accept, act correctly, obey, follow, hold to and stick to the Bible. If we do this Jesus abides in us and that’s where wonderful things start to happen.

I want to give an easy example of what it means to abide. God actually says a lot on how we are to speak; below are just two verses:

Ephesians 4:29
Don’t use foul or abusive language.

Ephesians 5:4
Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes – these are not for you.

When it comes to your speech, and this includes your thought-life, are you abiding in Jesus and having Jesus abide in you?

Action Plan: As you take time reflecting on this week’s Scripture do an internal exam of your life and where you might not be abiding in Jesus. Pray to God and ask Him to reveal to you where you need to obey, follow, hold to and stick to Jesus in your life.

Extra Scripture: Check out these extra scriptures about what Jesus says about obeying.
John 14:15,23
1 John 3:5-6
James 1:22-25

Your Sister in Christ,