All The Way In

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

--John 15:5 (ESV)

Have you ever sat by the edge of the pool and watch others in the pool? You can smell the chlorine in the water, you can feel the moisture in the air; however, you have not experienced the water. What about sitting on the edge the pool with your feet in? Your feet are in, you feel the temperature but you are not all the way in. You still have not truly experienced being in the water. To truly experience being in the water, you must get all the way in—not just waist deep but all the way in.

To abide means to dwell, reside or live in a place. We cannot say that we are abiding in Jesus if we are on the outside observing. We cannot say that we are truly abiding if we only have our feet in. If we are going to dwell in Jesus, we must immerse ourselves in Him. Immersion requires full commitment. It is not get in and quickly get out. You must get in and stay in.

Just like the pool, to experience Jesus, we must be all the way in. Being in Christ Jesus is an entirely different experience than being in the world. There are benefits to being in Jesus. Jesus is say in this passage that if you dwell in him, you will bear much fruit.

You will produce those things that you were created to do. The plan that God has for you and the things He wants you to do can only be experience if you are all the way in. Make the commitment to be all the way in and see what God does!