Jesus, our life source.
‘But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself (Galatians 5:22–23)
Ephesus was a city that had lost connection with the source of its economic prosperity and that affected every area of life for its citizens, ultimately leading to it being abandoned altogether, although there were additional factors, including earthquakes and invasions.
Let’s pause for a moment on the need for us to ‘abide’, or stay connected to Christ, our life source. His statement, ‘you can’t do anything without me’ is startling and comprehensive. But there are some things we can do without walking with Jesus daily. Commentator Kent Hughes: 'Actually there are many things we can do without Christ. We can earn a living, raise a family, and practice generosity. It is possible to pastor a church without abiding. It is possible to counsel people without abiding. So what does Christ mean?’1
The answer is found in the reference that Jesus makes to bearing fruit. If we are to experience true heart change and growth - the development of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ that Paul describes in his letter to the Galatian Christians - then we must determine to live our lives in and with Jesus. That calls us to prayer. It means that we will endure, staying faithful when life doesn’t make sense. But ‘abiding’ is not just about personal, individual spirituality, but calls us into the discipline of being part of church community together. As Jesus spoke about being the true Vine, His Jewish followers would have known that this spoke of being part of a people. Jews thought of Israel as a vine - the picture is repeated in the Psalms and the Prophets - but now Jesus was teaching that He was inaugurating a new Israel, a people belonging to Him and dwelling with Him.
If we are to grow into becoming more like Jesus, prayer and perseverance will be needed - and so will being with other believers in worship, service and friendship. He is our source, for today and for eternity.
1 Hughes, R. K. (1999). John: that you may believe (p. 357). Crossway Books.