Abide

“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.” (John 15: 4)

What does it mean to “abide?” There are several Greek words in the Bible that are properly translated “abide.” By gaining the meaning of each depending on how it is used a fuller understanding can be gained about what it means. In Acts 11: 23 it is used metaphorically indicating persistent loyalty. 

The Greek word “meno” often translated abide indicates perseverance in continuing.      

Another Greek word “prosmeno” translated abide means to continue with.

Abiding is a combination of love and faithfulness.

An example of abiding in Jesus is the group of twenty-three South Korean missionaries who were captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan and sentenced to death. The group knew that the Taliban had decided to kill them, one at a time. One by one the missionaries surrendered their lives again to Jesus saying, “Lord, if you want me to die for your sake I’ll do it.” Then the pastor said, “I’ve talked to [the Taliban] because they are going to start killing us and I’ve told their leaders that if anyone dies, I die first because I am your pastor.”  Another said, “No, because I also am a pastor and I am your elder. I die first.” That is abiding in Jesus.

A Sudanese court sentenced a twenty-seven year old pregnant woman to death for refusing to recant her Christian faith. The court also convicted her of adultery and sentenced her to one hundred lashes because her marriage to a Christian man is considered void under sharia law. Mariam Yaha Ibrahim Ishag told the court: “I am a Christian and I will remain a Christian.”

She has since given birth to a baby girl and is allowed to care for her for two years before the sentence is implemented. Mariam was shackled in prison along with her new baby awaiting execution. That is an example of abiding in Jesus.

Hopefully no one reading this will ever suffer such persecution. However, there are daily examples all around us of people abiding in Jesus.    

There is a young business man who will not compromise and be a party to a scheme to defraud another company under the threat of losing his job if he doesn’t.

There is a teenager refusing to compromise sexually under the pressure of “everybody is doing it,” knowing popularity will be lost as a result of the decision.

There is the couple trying to sell their house unwilling to hide a flaw that will result in losing the sale or not getting the asking price.

There is the builder who will not use compromised building material and cheating the owner for whom the house is being built.

There is the person when alone won’t compromise and watch sexually explicit material.

You fill in the blank. “There is the ….”

What the above text means is Jesus will be loyal to us (abide). We should be loyal (abide in) Him.