Today, we begin reading together the classic devotional "Abide in Christ" by Andrew Murray. The text of this book has been slightly edited for the modern reader. Words, expressions, and sentence structure have been updated for clarity and readability. When not noted otherwise, most scripture references are from the New King James Version of the Bible
Before we read the preface, we are going to read the scripture passage that this book is based upon...
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you
.4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:1-11
Preface
During the life of Jesus on earth, the word He chiefly used when speaking of the relations of the disciples to Himself was, “Follow me” (Matt. 4:19). When about to leave for heaven, He gave them a new word, in which their more intimate and spiritual union with Him in glory would be expressed. That chosen word was, “Abide in me” (John 15:4).
It is to be feared that there are many earnest followers of Jesus from whom the meaning of this word, with the blessed experience it promises, is very much hidden. While trusting in their Savior for pardon and for help and seeking to some extent to obey Him, they have hardly realized the closeness of union, the intimacy of fellowship, and the wondrous oneness of life and interest to which He invited them when He said, “Abide in me.” This is not only an unspeakable loss to them, but the church and the world also suffer from their loss.
If we ask why those who have indeed accepted the Savior and have been made partakers of the renewing of the Holy Spirit yet come short of the full salvation prepared for them, I am sure the answer will, in very many cases, be that ignorance is the cause of the unbelief that fails to obtain the inheritance. If, in our orthodox churches, abiding in Christ—the living union with Him, the experience of His daily and hourly presence and keeping—were preached with the same distinctness and urgency as His atonement and pardon through His blood, I am confident that many would be found to accept with gladness the invitation to such a life. I am confident also that its influence would be manifest in their experience of the purity and the power, the love and the joy, the fruit bearing, and all the blessedness that the Savior connected with abiding in Him.
It is with the desire to help those who have not yet fully understood what the Savior meant by His command to abide in Him, or who have feared that it was a life beyond their reach, that these meditations are now published. It is only by frequent repetition that a child learns his lessons. It is only by continuously fixing the mind for a time on one of the lessons of faith that the believer is gradually helped to thoroughly understand them. I have the hope that to some, especially to young believers, it will be helpful to come for a month, day after day, and read over the precious words, “Abide in me,” with the lessons connected with them in the parable of the Vine. Step by step, we will get to see how truly this promise-precept is meant for us, how surely grace is provided to enable us to obey it, how indispensable the experience of its blessing is to a healthy Christian life, and how unspeakable the blessings are that flow from it. As we listen, meditate, and pray—as we surrender ourselves and accept in faith the whole Jesus as He offers Himself to us in it—the Holy Spirit will make the Word to be spirit and life. This word of Jesus, too, will become to us the power of God unto salvation, and through it will come the faith that grasps the long desired blessing.
I pray earnestly that our gracious Lord may be pleased to bless this little book, to help those who seek to know Him full.. I pray still more earnestly that He would, by whatever means, make the multitudes of His dear children who are still living divided lives see how He claims them wholly for Himself and how wholehearted surrender to abide in Him alone brings the joy unspeakable that is full of glory. Oh, let each of us who has begun to taste the sweetness of this life yield himself wholly to be a witness to the grace and power of our Lord. May He keep us united with Himself and may we seek by word and walk to win others to follow Him fully. It is only in such fruit bearing that our own abiding can be maintained.
In conclusion, I ask to be permitted to give one word of advice to my reader. It is this: it takes time to grow into Jesus the Vine; do not expect to abide in Him unless you will give Him that time. It is not enough to read God’s Word, or the meditations offered here and, when we think we have taken hold of the thoughts and have asked God for His blessing, to go out in the hope that the blessing will abide. No, it requires time with Jesus and with God day by day. We all know the time required for our meals each day. Every workman claims his hour for dinner; the hurried eating of so much food is not enough. If we are to live through Jesus, we must feed on Him (John 6:57); we must thoroughly take in and assimilate that heavenly food the Father has given us in His life. Therefore, my brother or sister who wants to learn to abide in Jesus, take time each day, before you read, while you read, and after you read, to put yourself into living contact with the living Jesus, to yield yourself distinctly and consciously to His blessed influence. By doing so, you will give Him the opportunity of taking hold of you, of drawing you up and keeping you safe in His almighty life.
And now, to all God’s children whom He allows me the privilege of pointing to the Heavenly Vine, I offer my brotherly love and salutations, with the prayer that to each one of them may be given the rich and full experience of the blessedness of abiding in Christ. And may the grace of Jesus, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be their daily portion. Amen. —Andrew Murray
To Watch and Read the next devotional, click below:
Abide In Christ by Andrew Murray - Day 1 - All You Who Have Come To Him
Before we read the preface, we are going to read the scripture passage that this book is based upon...
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you
.4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:1-11
Preface
During the life of Jesus on earth, the word He chiefly used when speaking of the relations of the disciples to Himself was, “Follow me” (Matt. 4:19). When about to leave for heaven, He gave them a new word, in which their more intimate and spiritual union with Him in glory would be expressed. That chosen word was, “Abide in me” (John 15:4).
It is to be feared that there are many earnest followers of Jesus from whom the meaning of this word, with the blessed experience it promises, is very much hidden. While trusting in their Savior for pardon and for help and seeking to some extent to obey Him, they have hardly realized the closeness of union, the intimacy of fellowship, and the wondrous oneness of life and interest to which He invited them when He said, “Abide in me.” This is not only an unspeakable loss to them, but the church and the world also suffer from their loss.
If we ask why those who have indeed accepted the Savior and have been made partakers of the renewing of the Holy Spirit yet come short of the full salvation prepared for them, I am sure the answer will, in very many cases, be that ignorance is the cause of the unbelief that fails to obtain the inheritance. If, in our orthodox churches, abiding in Christ—the living union with Him, the experience of His daily and hourly presence and keeping—were preached with the same distinctness and urgency as His atonement and pardon through His blood, I am confident that many would be found to accept with gladness the invitation to such a life. I am confident also that its influence would be manifest in their experience of the purity and the power, the love and the joy, the fruit bearing, and all the blessedness that the Savior connected with abiding in Him.
It is with the desire to help those who have not yet fully understood what the Savior meant by His command to abide in Him, or who have feared that it was a life beyond their reach, that these meditations are now published. It is only by frequent repetition that a child learns his lessons. It is only by continuously fixing the mind for a time on one of the lessons of faith that the believer is gradually helped to thoroughly understand them. I have the hope that to some, especially to young believers, it will be helpful to come for a month, day after day, and read over the precious words, “Abide in me,” with the lessons connected with them in the parable of the Vine. Step by step, we will get to see how truly this promise-precept is meant for us, how surely grace is provided to enable us to obey it, how indispensable the experience of its blessing is to a healthy Christian life, and how unspeakable the blessings are that flow from it. As we listen, meditate, and pray—as we surrender ourselves and accept in faith the whole Jesus as He offers Himself to us in it—the Holy Spirit will make the Word to be spirit and life. This word of Jesus, too, will become to us the power of God unto salvation, and through it will come the faith that grasps the long desired blessing.
I pray earnestly that our gracious Lord may be pleased to bless this little book, to help those who seek to know Him full.. I pray still more earnestly that He would, by whatever means, make the multitudes of His dear children who are still living divided lives see how He claims them wholly for Himself and how wholehearted surrender to abide in Him alone brings the joy unspeakable that is full of glory. Oh, let each of us who has begun to taste the sweetness of this life yield himself wholly to be a witness to the grace and power of our Lord. May He keep us united with Himself and may we seek by word and walk to win others to follow Him fully. It is only in such fruit bearing that our own abiding can be maintained.
In conclusion, I ask to be permitted to give one word of advice to my reader. It is this: it takes time to grow into Jesus the Vine; do not expect to abide in Him unless you will give Him that time. It is not enough to read God’s Word, or the meditations offered here and, when we think we have taken hold of the thoughts and have asked God for His blessing, to go out in the hope that the blessing will abide. No, it requires time with Jesus and with God day by day. We all know the time required for our meals each day. Every workman claims his hour for dinner; the hurried eating of so much food is not enough. If we are to live through Jesus, we must feed on Him (John 6:57); we must thoroughly take in and assimilate that heavenly food the Father has given us in His life. Therefore, my brother or sister who wants to learn to abide in Jesus, take time each day, before you read, while you read, and after you read, to put yourself into living contact with the living Jesus, to yield yourself distinctly and consciously to His blessed influence. By doing so, you will give Him the opportunity of taking hold of you, of drawing you up and keeping you safe in His almighty life.
And now, to all God’s children whom He allows me the privilege of pointing to the Heavenly Vine, I offer my brotherly love and salutations, with the prayer that to each one of them may be given the rich and full experience of the blessedness of abiding in Christ. And may the grace of Jesus, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be their daily portion. Amen. —Andrew Murray
To Watch and Read the next devotional, click below:
Abide In Christ by Andrew Murray - Day 1 - All You Who Have Come To Him
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