"Remain in Me"

I am pondering this quote today:

Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. 

--John 15:4-5

 

It is one that I often return to and I feel that the whole image of the vine and the branches is rich enough to keep me there for some time. Jesus will add later the words, "Remain in my love." That is all that He asks of us and He tells us that He has chosen us that we may bear fruit. We have not chosen Jesus - Jesus has chosen us. That is an encouraging thought when we think of ourselves as poor and empty. Jesus tells us to remain in his love and all will be well.