Jesus: So you’ve concluded ‘I am everything’?
Me: Yes, Lord… I believe. Is it true?
Jesus: Ha… it is true! This was Our Father’s will before the creation of the world… and He has also included you in His plan!
Me: I am trying to follow John the Baptist’s example and become less while You become more. I don’t think I’m succeeding though.
Jesus: Well, let Me give you a strategy even better than John’s. Just ‘abide in Me’… or ‘remain in Me’… or better yet, ‘live in Me.’ Remember… ‘I am everything.’
Me: Hmmm… How exactly am I to do this? It sounds a little too simple.
Jesus: First, just believe what I tell you. Have a heart like your little grandchildren and trust completely. Here’s the truth: I am in the Father; you are in Me; and I am in you. When I died, you died. When I was raised, you were raised. When I ascended, you ascended. When the Holy Spirit was poured out, you were a recipient of the Father’s wonderful gift. The Helper lives in your heart and teaches you of Me and enables wonderful fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit.
Me: That sounds too good to be true. Now exactly how does it all work?
Jesus: The whole human race needs to grasp the goodness of the Father and the beauty of His plan. You don’t have to figure out how it all works… just trust and obey. I am the Vine; you are a branch; Our Father is the Gardener. Live in Me and I will live in you and there will be good fruit. Take joy in the life you’ve been given… it is My life.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Ephesians 1:3-4
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
“Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.” John 14:19-20
“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5