“Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:4-6.

A vine provides the water and nutrients by which fruit is produced.  Without the vine, no fruit could ever result.  The key to living a fruitful Christian life is for the branches (Christians) to abide in Christ, the vine.  The word “abide” means to remain or stay around.  We have to walk close to Christ to receive the ability to produce fruit.  Our fruit is produced by Christ working through us.  Hudson Taylor, the great missionary, put it this way – “The branch of the vine does not worry, and toil and rush here to seek for sunshine and there to find rain.  No; it rests in union and communion with the vine; and at the right time and in the right way, is the right fruit found on it.  Let us so abide in the Lord Jesus.”

Producing fruit is also an evidence of salvation, for a person that does not abide with Christ and produce fruit is cast into the fire (Hell).  “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:19-20.

The Christian life is fundamentally about abiding in Christ, following His direction through the Word of God/Holy Spirit as a bond servant, and resting in the Lord  – trusting Him to produce the perfect fruit that he created us to produce.  God’s burden is light as we abide in Him and take His yoke upon us.  “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:29-30.