A plant doesn’t grow by being dipped in soil once a week.
Ian Simkins
That line hit me hard. Because if we’re honest, a lot of us treat our relationship with Jesus like a weekly visit instead of a daily abiding. We show up to church, get a little “spiritual nourishment,” and then wonder why our faith feels weak by Wednesday. But the invitation of Jesus isn’t to pop in and out of His presence—it’s to remain, to stay, to abide.
The Vine and the Branches
Jesus makes it clear in John 15:4-5:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
A branch doesn’t produce fruit by occasionally checking in with the vine—it thrives because it’s constantly connected. The moment it separates, it starts dying. That’s the reality for us too. When we try to live for Jesus without staying connected to Jesus, we wither.
The problem is, we live in a world that’s full of distractions. We scroll, we binge-watch, we chase after success, and then we wonder why our souls feel empty. It’s because we’re dipping in and out of the soil instead of staying rooted in it.
Abiding Is a Daily Dependence
So what does abiding actually look like? It’s not just about church attendance or a quick devotional in the morning—it’s about living in constant connection with Christ.
- Abiding is about presence. It means being aware of Jesus in your everyday life, not just in your quiet time. It’s about inviting Him into the small, ordinary moments—your commute, your conversations, your frustrations, your victories.
- Abiding is about dependence. It’s realizing that apart from Him, you can do nothing of real, lasting value. It means choosing to trust Him with your struggles, instead of trying to muscle through them on your own.
- Abiding is about consistency. It’s choosing to remain in Him, even when life gets busy, chaotic, or hard. It’s not just seeking Him when things go wrong—it’s walking with Him daily, moment by moment.
Abiding Transforms Us
When we truly abide in Christ, it changes us. The more we stay connected to Jesus, the more we start to look like Him. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit that comes from abiding:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
You don’t have to force an apple tree to produce apples—it happens naturally when the tree is healthy and rooted. In the same way, when we stay connected to Jesus, spiritual growth happens naturally. But how do we know this fruit is showing up in our lives? Scripture actually points to several key ways this evidence plays out:
Soul-Winning – Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.” When we are deeply connected to Christ, we have a burden for the lost. Our words and actions point people toward Jesus, and we bear fruit by making disciples.
Christlike Character – As we abide, we are conformed more and more into the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 says we are “predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” The fruit of the Spirit isn’t just about what we do, but about who we are becoming—reflecting Jesus in our thoughts, actions, and reactions.
Praising and Confessing God – Hebrews 13:15 says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” A heart that abides in Christ naturally overflows with worship, thanksgiving, and confession, because it is deeply connected to the source of life.
Generosity – Philippians 4:17 speaks of financial giving as “fruit that increases to your credit.” Abiding in Christ produces a heart that is generous—giving freely, not out of obligation, but out of love for God and others.
Good Works and Righteous Living – Colossians 1:10 says, “so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.” When we abide, our lives begin to display good behavior, integrity, and actions that align with God’s Word.
More Than a Visit
If your faith feels dry, ask yourself: Am I visiting Jesus, or am I abiding in Him? Because growth doesn’t come from occasional contact—it comes from deep, continual connection.
Jesus isn’t inviting you to stop by when it’s convenient. He’s calling you to remain, to dwell, to make your home in Him. And that’s where real life is found.
So don’t just dip your roots in once a week—stay planted. Abide. Because that’s where real transformation happens.
Lucas Leibforth 
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