Ranui Sermons
Hear the word of the lord
Discipleship #2 – Time with God
Grahame Walker
Jesus gave us this metaphor of a winery and the need for a branch to “abide” in the vine to bear much fruit. Simply put, Abide in me and I in you. The word for abide in Greek can be translated as “remain” or “dwell” or “make your home in”. Jesus used this word not once but ten times. He is wanting to make a singular point: Make your home in my presence by the spirit and never leave.
Now, to be clear, Jesus is not asking us to do anything that we are not already doing. All of us are abiding. If we are rooted in the never-ending scroll of social media, it will form us, likely into people who are angry, anxious, arrogant simplistic and distracted. If we are rooted into the endless streams of checking websites or other platforms, they will form us too, likely into people who are lustful, restless and bored. Never actually present to what is.