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The Process of Spiritual Alignment—Abiding in Christ
You can watch it in action as one basketball team makes it all the way to the NBA Finals and wins. You can see it—in amazing speed—as world championship, relay race athletes make one smooth exchange after another and cross the finish line. It can be found in the kitchen as the chef works through the fancy New Year’s Eve menu with his team to feed 2,000 people simultaneously.
What are we watching exactly? We’re watching teamwork, congruency, synchronization, and unity. In short, it’s the intentional effort and product of alignment. The teams that win championships don’t always have the best talent or the most experienced coaches.
What these teams do possess is an extraordinary focus on doing their part—with all their skills, abilities, intellect, and strength—to make the entire team excel. These team members refuse to act alone. They function for something much greater—the success of their team.
A spiritual metaphor
In the spiritual world—to produce godliness and glorify God—alignment is also required. This alignment is relational in nature. You and I have a specific responsibility to practice in the process of making it all work as designed, and so does God. And as you would expect, relational unity and alignment is key.
The metaphor is a vineyard. God is the vinedresser—He takes care of the vineyard. Jesus is the vine—the source of life for the branches. And you serve as a branch—one who is completely dependent on the vine for nourishment to produce grapes—a picture of spiritual fruit.
John 15:1-11 leads us into this beautiful vineyard.
Jesus told his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” — John 15:1-11
There it is! God paints for us a picture of the essence of the Christian life. At its very core, the Christian life is relational—deeply relational. And everything that God allows in your life He does so to draw you closer to Him and increase your faith in His unlimited power.
Although we’ll dig deeper into this metaphor in the future, for now, let’s highlight a few observations as it relates to spiritual alignment.
The branch is expected to bear fruit. If a branch doesn’t bear fruit, it’s not functioning according to its purpose. It will therefore be removed. When a branch is bearing fruit, it will be pruned to bear even more fruit. You’re placed in God’s vineyard to bear much fruit, but how?
God paints for us a picture of the essence of the Christian life. At its very core, the Christian life is relational —deeply relational.
“Abide in me, and I in you.”
Abiding means to remain, to be still, present, and engaged with the Savior. The vine and the branches are a picture of total dependence. It goes far beyond a 30-second prayer before you have a meal. It goes much deeper than reading a chapter a day from your Bible.
Abiding is an ongoing spiritual engagement with Jesus and His Word. Although you will clearly see the visible fruit of an abiding life, the process to get there often takes place behind closed doors—where no one is watching.
Here is the key to your true success as a Christian—a continuous abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything spiritually productive flows from this relationship. This is how you achieve spiritual alignment. This is how you bear much fruit and impact God’s kingdom.
Since you are the branch, daily nourishment from the vine is what you need to survive and thrive in God’s vineyard. If you decide to live the Christian life without the life-giving connection to the vine—Jesus Christ—you won’t do anything spiritually productive. Jesus told His disciples, “Apart from me you can do nothing,” and He meant it. Do you believe that?
As a branch in God’s vineyard, you can’t do anything spiritually productive without being rightly connected to the vine—Jesus Christ.
But here’s the amazing part of being spiritually aligned—abiding—with the vine. Your prayers change. What you ask for changes from you-centered prayers to God-centered prayers. Your will is dramatically replaced by God’s will in this process. And when this happens, your prayer life will never be the same again. It will be transformed as you see God at work through your prayers.
It all starts with abiding in the vine—Jesus Christ. So, what’s holding you back from abiding in Christ? Whatever it is, get it out the way. Your spiritual nourishment is essential to your joy and spiritual productivity as a branch. Decide to get back to the basics—a ongoing, growing daily relationship with Jesus Christ—and start thriving again.
Abiding is an ongoing spiritual engagement with Jesus and His Word. As a branch in God’s vineyard, you can’t do anything spiritually productive without being rightly connected to the vine—Jesus Christ.
Summary
Your daily relationship with the Savior is what fuels your spiritual vitality. God took the time to illustrate the importance of this abiding relationship through His metaphor in John 15. As His branch, God has a special purpose for your life. He expects you to grow spiritually as you receive from the vine and obey His commandments. You can’t do anything without the vine, but there’s nothing you can’t do when the nutrients from the vine flow freely through you.
Evaluate
Honestly evaluate the priority you give to your spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. Is it more like placing a fast-food order and eating your meal on the road or like a fine dining experience over several hours? Don’t rush the time you spend with your Lord each day.
Commit to extending your time in God’s presence. If ten minutes has been your custom each day, extend it to twenty minutes. You may have to get up earlier, prepare your lunch the night before, or change your evening routine.
Whatever you must do to spend more time in God’s presence is well worth your effort. Don’t delay. Make whatever adjustments are needed on your calendar. You’ll be glad you did.
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