Hudson Taylor wrote, “But how do you get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.” It was John chapter 15 that God used to open his eyes where Jesus said. “I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides IN me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 KJ2000) As Paul put it, “IN Him we live and move and have our being… for we are His offspring.” It is all about resting IN Jesus, “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30 KJ2000)

I just finished a search in the N. T. for all the verses that speak of us abiding IN Jesus as our life and all that is ours as we rest IN Him and it filled up eight pages of small type!

Do you want to hear from Jesus? Abide IN Him…

“God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us IN his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2 ASV)

Do you lack love for a brother? Abide IN Him…

“He that loves his brother abides IN the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.” (1 John 2:9-10 KJ2000)

Do you want to do God’s will for your life, abide IN Christ!

“For we are his workmanship, created IN Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 KJ2000)

Do want to walk upright before the Father? We can only do so as we abide IN Christ…

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN Christ: According as he has chosen us IN him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1:3-4 KJ2000)

Do you want to see unity in the church? It starts with you as you abide IN Him,

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for you are all one IN Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 KJ2000)

Are you tired of that old nature in you that keeps pulling you down. Again, the answer is found by abiding IN Jesus… “Therefore if any man be IN Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJ2000)

Everything we need and all that the Father has for us is found IN Him as we abide in the Son. A vine dresser must slit the bark of the vine and graft in a new bud for there to be new life which will bring forth the fruit he desires. Then he prunes it as it grows. As we abide in Christ the Vine, the Father prunes us that we might bring for more of the desired fruit unto Him. The Father grafts us INTO His Son when we believe with saving faith and even that faith is given us by Him! Just as the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom as Jesus died on the cross, so was His flesh torn so that we could be grafted INTO Him and then abide there for eternity. Our part is to abide in the Son where the Father has placed us. We rest in His finished work and then He makes the spiritual fruit come forth. What shall we say to the Father if we neglect so great a salvation? Abiding and resting in His Son is the key to everything He requires.