"Abide in me." That is a phrase you don't here very often in casual conversation. Some might even call the words archaic. Yet these words from John 15:7 represent one of Jesus' most powerful invitations. In the parable of the true vine Jesus invites us to abide in him, and he will abide in us. More modern phrasing might say "live in me, and I will live in you".
Beyond the unusual words, this is an invitation to connection that stretches our understanding. What does it mean to open our lives so completely that we coexist with our redeemer? When the question is this big, sometimes it is easier to use old words. The unfamiliar phrase invites us to explore every possible way we can share our life. When we abide in Jesus we can "live in", "share with", "dwell" or "seek comfort". When Jesus abides in us he can "guide", "teach" and "nourish".
Whatever the modern words we use, there is no easy understanding. We are simply invited to a new way and a new path. With a little grace, the understanding comes from the day by day journey.
