I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit.
JOHN 15:5
IT’S A WONDERFUL DAY INDEED when we stop working for God and begin working with God. (Go ahead, read the sentence again.)
For years I viewed God as a compassionate CEO and my role as a loyal sales representative. He had his office, and I had my territory. I could contact him as much as I wanted. He was always a phone or fax away. He encouraged me, rallied behind me, and supported me, but he didn’t go with me. At least I didn’t think he did. Then I read 2 Corinthians 6:1: We are “God’s fellow workers” (NIV).
Fellow workers? Colaborers? God and I work together? Imagine the paradigm shift this truth creates. Rather than report to God, we work with God. Rather than check in with him and then leave, we check in with him and then follow. We are always in the presence of God. We never leave church. There is never a nonsacred moment! His presence never diminishes. Our awareness of his presence may falter, but the reality of his presence never changes.
This leads me to a great question. If God is perpetually present, is it possible to enjoy unceasing communion with him? Would it be possible to live—minute by minute—in the presence of God? Is such intimacy even possible?
1. Paul obviously thought in terms of continuous communication with the Lord. Look at these verses, and write down what each says about praying.
Romans 12:12_________________________________
Ephesians 6:18_________________________________
Philippians 4:6_________________________________
Colossians 4:2_________________________________
1 Thessalonians 5:17_________________________________
2. The call is to abide—dwell together, remain together. David often spoke of abiding with God. What does Psalm 91:1 declare?
3. In John 8:31, what does Jesus say is one of the hallmarks of his disciples?
The truth . . . abides in us and will be with us forever.
2 JOHN 1:2
4. John frequently speaks of abiding, both in his gospel and in his letters. One of the things this disciple urges is abiding in God’s Word. What does he urge believers to continue in, according to 2 John 1:9?
5. Jesus uses the picture of a vine and its branches to illustrate just how dependent we are on the Lord for our lives. What does he command in John 15:4, and what is the consequence if we do not obey?
6. Without Jesus, what can we do, according to John 15:5? With Jesus, what can we do, according to John 15:7?
God is as near to you as the vine is to the branch, as present within you as God was in the temple, as intimate with you as a husband with a wife, and as devoted to you as a shepherd to his sheep.
JUST LIKE JESUS
God wants to be as close to us as a branch is to a vine. One is an extension of the other. It’s impossible to tell where one starts and the other ends. The branch isn’t connected only at the moment of bearing fruit. The gardener doesn’t keep the branches in a box and then, on the day he wants grapes, glue them to the vine. No, the branch constantly draws nutrition from the vine. Separation means certain death.
God also uses the temple to depict the intimacy he desires. “Don’t you know,” Paul writes, “that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 TEV). Think with me about the temple for a moment. Was God a visitor or a resident in Solomon’s temple? Would you describe his presence as occasional or permanent? You know the answer. God didn’t come and go, appear and disappear. He was a permanent presence, always available.
What incredibly good news for us! We are NEVER away from God! He is NEVER away from us—not even for a moment! God doesn’t come to us on Sunday mornings and then exit on Sunday afternoons. He remains within us, continually present in our lives.
7. One consequence of abiding is fruitfulness. What is Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:17–18?
8. List the spiritual fruit found in Ephesians 5:9 and Galatians 5:22–23. To what extent can we produce these things ourselves?
9. What are we called to do in 1 John 2:28?
I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too—your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful—I can’t take it all in!
PSALM 139:2–6 MSG
People who live long lives together eventually begin to sound alike, to talk alike, even to think alike. As we walk with God, we take on his thoughts, his principles, his attitudes. We take on his heart.
Does unceasing communion seem daunting, complicated? Are you thinking, Life is difficult enough. Why add this? If so, remind yourself that God is the burden-remover, not the burden-giver. God intends that unceasing prayer lighten—not heighten—our load.
The more we search the Bible, the more we realize that unbroken communion with God is the intent and not the exception. Within the reach of every Christian is the unending presence of God. 