Jesus, in John 15, offers profound wisdom to His disciples, urging them to prioritize communion with Him above all else. In our ongoing exploration of the significance of communion with Christ, we’ve uncovered profound insights into the transformative power of abiding in Him. Building on our previous discussions, we now go deeper into two more reasons why prioritizing communion with Christ is essential for our spiritual growth and vitality.
Reason #4 – The consequences are deathly serious v. 6
“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” – John 15:6
When setting goals, we seek wise counsel from those who understand the ramifications of our decisions. In verse 6, Jesus provides such counsel—a loving, wise warning. This imagery is intentionally stark, designed to impress upon His disciples the gravity of being disconnected from communion with Him.
Drawing from the context of the Old Testament, Jesus emphasizes the fate of a fruitless vine branch, as described in Ezekiel 15:2-5. Just as such a fuitless branch is only fit for the fire, one who is united to Christ but fails to maintain communion with Him becomes utterly useless. Jesus won’t bless our self-sufficiency or deceive us into false security. Rejecting communion with Him has serious consequences.
Texting & Driving
In high school, I once drove distracted, texting while behind the wheel. A concerned member of our church saw me and issued a serious warning, expressing genuine care. It wasn’t an act of malice but of love. The warning was serious but it came from a good heart.
In our spiritual journey, maintaining communion with Christ is paramount. Drifting from Him leads to spiritual desolation. Neglecting this vital connection renders our efforts fruitless and exposes us to dire consequences. Just as branches severed from the vine wither, so too do we lose vitality without Christ at the core of our lives. Jesus loves us too much to let us float along–believing that there aren’t consequences from disconnection from Him.
Reason #5 – It is the key to answered prayer v. 7
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” – John 15:7
Jesus frames the concept of prayer within the context of communion with Him. Effective prayer flows from abiding in Jesus—when His disciples, living in communion with Him, internalize His words, their prayers align with His will, moving the heart of the Father. Every prayer that has ever been answered is one aligned with God’s will. And the way we align our hearts with His will is through communion with Jesus.
Our Words Reflecting His Word
Practical abiding in Christ involves receiving, internalizing, and clinging to His word. When our hearts align with His through prayer, our wishes conform to His word, rather than twisting His word to suit our desires. The essence of Christian life lies in this ongoing communion with God through Christ, as His word shapes our hearts and our prayers. The heart of our walk with God is communion through the communication of His word coming in and our words going back out. Our desire is that our words would reflect His word.
As we reflect on the gravity of Jesus’ words and the transformative potential of communion with Him, we’re reminded of the profound significance of maintaining this vital connection.
Next week we will look at two more reasons we should prioritize communion with Christ.
