Becoming Like Jesus: What Difference Do I Make?Sample

The Son has invited you to remain.

Today, we are continuing to walk with Jesus and His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane, learning more about the kind of relationship Jesus has invited us into.

Yesterday, we saw that our connection to Jesus is dependent on the care of the Father. He wants us to trust Him in the process of becoming more like Jesus for the sake of others. Because the kind of life that makes a difference, a fruitful life, starts with trusting the Father.

It also requires us to stay rooted in the right things. That’s what Jesus means when He says:

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5-6 NLT

That word “remain” that Jesus repeats multiple times in these verses is a word that means to abide, stay, wait, or await; to live with or live in. It describes something in terms of continuation or endurance.

Paul gives us another picture of what it means to remain in Jesus in Colossians 3:

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Colossians 3:3-4 NLT

The phrase, “Christ, who is your life…” is not an exaggeration like, “man, video games are my life! Chick-fil-A is my life! School is my life…” And so on.

Jesus and Paul are both making the same point: When we are disconnected from Jesus, we are separated from the source of all that is good and life-giving. That’s a big deal.

Apart from Jesus, we’re like the walking dead—just going through the motions without really living. But, when we remain in Jesus, a fruitful and meaningful life is possible.

How do we get there? How do we actually remain in Jesus?

Thankfully, He spells that out for us in verse 10:

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. John 15:10 NLT

Obeying Jesus’ commands is how we remain in His love.

The objection coming to mind is probably like…wow, isn’t that so self-serving of Jesus? “If you want to have life—a fruitful life of intimacy with Me—you have to do what I say.” Sounds like Jesus is power-tripping a little here.

But actually, He’s not. He’s doing two really powerful things. First, He is inviting us into the same kind of relationship God the Son has with God the Father and that’s mind-blowingly awesome.

Second, He is inviting us to set down our heavy yokes and take up His yoke, His way of seeing and being in the world. And Jesus’ yoke is easy. His burden is light. In fact, there’s only one command:

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13 NLT

What is a fruitful life? It’s a life that represents the goodness, faithfulness, and patience of God to the rest of the world.

How do we live a fruitful life? We remain in Jesus.

How do we remain in Jesus? We do what He says.

What did He say to do? Love others the same way He has loved you.

And here’s the really good news: “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 15:15-16 NLT

You have been chosen and appointed by Jesus to produce lasting fruit. He wants to be more than mere acquaintances with you. When Jesus sees you, He doesn’t just see a slave or servant. He sees a friend and family. He has invited you to find life in Him. To remain in Him. To be one with Him. To experience the same intimacy and union with the Father that He does. How do we get all of that? We remain in Him as He remains in us.

The Son has invited you to remain.

Pray:Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to show me what a relationship with you is really like. Jesus, I want to remain in you. I want to stay with you and become like you. Help me to remain by doing what you say. Help me to see people how you see them so I can love them like you love them. Thank you for loving me and giving your life for me. I trust you. In Jesus’ name, amen.