The Triune God, Father, Son and Spirit, desires to abide with us and we with Him [John 14:20; 15:4]. It is in abiding with Christ that the Christian walks in victory. So, we need to get real and ask ourselves, do we really -- even as Christians -- want to abide in the vine? Do we really want to pay the price? You may say, “Sure, doesn’t everyone?” Jesus told the disciples “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost? [Luke 14:28.KJV] I believe the Lord wants us to sit down first and really count the cost to see if we are truly willing just to abide in the Vine as a branch. You might say, “What are you talking about? What do you mean, count the cost? What cost is there?” The cost of abiding can be seen more clearly as we look closer at the relationship between the vine and the branches.

The branches don’t compete with one another. You see, all the branch does is allow the life of the vine to flow through it. This negates one branch competing with another branch to see which one can produce the most beautiful fruit. The branches simply abide in the vine, and it’s up to the life flowing from the Vine to determine what kind of fruit the branch will produce. Are we willing to give up the competition one with another and let God’s life flow through us to bear the fruit He wants us to bear? Will we stop competing with the fellowship down the block that seems to be growing faster than ours? Can we graciously step back to let another brother receive recognition, which we feel should be ours?

The branches don’t have their own agenda. The Lord’s agenda for you right now may be different from your agenda. He may be speaking to you about going to the foreign missions field, while you may have a secular profession in mind. You may have spent many years preparing for that career in college. You may say, “Lord, this doesn’t make sense!” On the other hand, He may NOT want you to go to the foreign missions field, and you may have to give up those plans in order to follow His leading elsewhere. Are you willing to place your agenda on the altar as a sacrifice? You may have to drop something. Remember Paul’s experience? He wanted to preach the gospel in Asia. Paul and his co-workers went East to enter Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit would not allow them. Instead, they turned West, and eventually took the gospel to the European continent. [Acts 16:7 KJV] Are you sure you still want to be just a branch? Be honest. Doesn’t it sound more exciting to have your own plans and set time lines for each endeavor? You have more control that way. Can we relinquish control of our lives to Him and simply trust Him?

The branch can’t take the glory for the fruit it bears. The life of God flowing through us glorifies Jesus, not us. Are you sure you want that? Wouldn’t you rather get the glory? Honestly, don’t you feel it’s about time that you did get the glory for a job well done? Wouldn’t it feel good to be revered by others? You may feel, “I’ve worked for this so hard it’s about time.” But what about Jesus, who “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” [Phil 2:17 KJV] Even Jesus Himself did not take the glory. Jesus said, “The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me who is doing his work.” [John 14:10 KJV] Even John the Baptist didn’t get any glory. While he was preaching and gathering followers, his disciples joined up with Jesus, and left him sitting! Is God asking you to let Him have the glory by letting go? Are we willing as ministers to let go of our most prized possessions so God can get the glory? What if God has done a wonderful work in a brother or sister who is under your care, and all of a sudden it seems God is calling him/her to another ministry somewhere else? Is it hard for you to realize that these saints belong to God and not to you? Wouldn’t you rather hold onto them for the sake of your ministry? Wouldn’t it be hard to let them go? Now let me ask you again, are you still willing to be a branch in the vine?

What about the pruning? Jesus warns his disciples that, “every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” [John 15:2 KJV] Are you willing to be pruned so that you can bear more fruit for His Glory? Each year in Northern California’s “Wine Country”, the vineyards are pruned back after the harvest. The field workers cut them down nearly to the central stump. They are gnarled and look like they are dead, good only for firewood. Isn’t that scary? Nevertheless, without pruning, the grapevine will not bear much fruit, nor will the fruit be sweet. Remember, the pruning may hurt, but it is for Him.

Have you calculated the cost of abiding? Are you ready to go for it? You will see fruit born from your life, from your ministry. Jesus says that He is the vine and we are the branches. As we abide in Him, and He in us, we will bring forth much fruit. You won't be frustrated trying to go one way when the Lord is going the other. You'll experience a wonderful peace as you are willing to let go for His glory.Your ministry will become more powerful as you allow Him to minister through you. You'll be free from competition with that other pastor or brother or sister in the Lord.

Remember God is the husbandman of the vinyard, and promises He will continue the good work He has started in you until the day of Jesus Christ. [Phil 1:6 KJV] He is working in you. He is not in a hurry. He knows exactly what you need. Trust Him. Rest in Him. He is faithful, You don’t have to be anxious. He is in the process of showing you what it means to abide in Him. You're in good hands!

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