20. Unless You Abide—

John 15:4 (NRSV) — 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.

We know the meaning of the word unless—it expresses an indispensable condition, an inevitable law. "The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine. No more can you, unless you abide in Me."

There is but one way for the branch to bear fruit—it must abide in unbroken communion with the vine. Not of itself, but only of the vine, does the fruit come. In nature the branch teaches us the lesson so clearly and now for us it is such a wonderful privilege to be called and allowed to abide in the Heavenly Vine. But Christ knows so well what a renunciation of self is implied in this "Abide in Me". He knows how strong and universal the tendency is to seek to bear fruit by our own efforts. He knows how difficult it is to get us to believe that actual, continuous abiding in Him is an absolute necessity! He insists upon the Truth: Not of itself can the branch bear fruit; except it abide, it cannot bear fruit. "No more can you, unless you abide in Me."