“Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).

We are told by Jesus, in effect, that in order to accomplish God’s work fully, we need only to abide (continue, remain) in Christ. But how do we enter into that abiding?

When we come to God (in private prayer, etc.), many times we fail to get a sense of connection with Him, right? Typically, we try to do something to fix this. Often that sense of fellowship with God just alludes us.

Some of us apply certain practices that we have been told are pleasing to God, such as praise, worship, Bible reading, meditation, and various kinds of prayers. When we are practicing these things we can tell ourselves we must be okay, since we have fulfilled the required criteria. So then, all is well, right?…or is it?

Most of us tend to lose the motivation to continue trying to keep these externals because when we still can’t seem to get that sense of connection with God. He just seems distant and we often feel alone and even, perhaps unloved. We are subtly (often indirectly) told to try to continually remind ourselves that God loves us. This is because we don’t really experience any real sense of relationship with Him.

Sadly, we find that over time, our time with God seems more and more like a chore than a joyously rewarding experience. Eventually, the frequency of our time with God diminishes and even often dies. Often upon hearing (again) from pastors or others that time with God is expected of us, we attempt to renew this practice, but it just doesn’t last.

Then we again are instructed by a teacher or someone else, the importance of time with God for spiritual health. Or perhaps we have even been told that it is the measure of our standing with God. We often feel guilty,inadequate, or that we are failing as Christians.

From that guilt, fear or sense of inadequacy, we renew our effort to pray or otherwise spend time with God. Does this solve the problem? Usually, we end up repeating this same cycle over and over again.

Are either of these solutions – checking the boxes, or trying and failing – God’s solution for our relationship with Him?

It seems like we are just going through the motions so we can feel ok about our spiritual life, but God doesn’t seem to be attending our meetings. Why is this happening? Why can’t we enter into a rich, inspired, two-way relationship with God? Does He offer us a solution to this dilemma?

In Isaiah 58 the Lord speaks,

If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot
From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,
And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable,
And honor it, desisting from your own ways,
From seeking your own pleasure
And speaking your own word,

Then you will take delight in the LORD,
And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isaiah 58 13-14).

We know from Scripture that the “Sabbath” was meant to ultimately represent the rest we would inherit through Christ, from our natural motivations (or “works”).

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:9-11).

Applying that context to these verses, we can see that a deeper meaning here is related to the new covenant of grace through faith. This rest which comes from believing in Christ’s sacrifice enables us to not only cease from doing our own works but also inherit righteousness and the righteous works that accompany that righteousness.

Thus we are ceasing from doing our own will, satisfying our own interests. Please note, also, that failing to enter that rest is described as “disobedience” to God.

So then, how do we enter?

Later on in Hebrews, the writer says this:

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Thus we can see that our entrance into fellowship with God can only occur through the cleansing of our hearts from evil motives by the power of the cross. This is the gift of God and it only comes from believing and daily relying on the message or word of the cross.

This, then is how our daily entrance into connection with God is assured by God so that we needn’t try to figure out any other basis for qualifying – for there is none. By faith in His Son’s death we can be assured that God will welcome us.

Moreover, we will be reassured by the Holy Spirit of His presence with us when we determine to enter on no other basis. That is the confidence that is spoken of in these verses. It is not a convincing of ourselves by mere principle, but the supernatural assurance by the Holy Spirit of His presence and approval of us.

This entrance must always be received as a gift, completely unearned. It is based on faith that comes from hearing the message of Christ, who gave Himself for us. We learn to hope only in that and are welcomed by God always.

Resting in Christ and living by faith in Him this way is a most wonderful way to live.