The Greek verb translated abide, in John 15:4, has the same root as the Greek noun translated mansions, in John 14:2; and abode, in John 14:23. We do not originate in the Vine, we are grafted on it.

Each of us has his or her own personality that has come from many sources and resulted from various experiences. Each of us is unique. Our uniqueness is desirable to the Lord Jesus.

Jesus desires that each of us be himself. In many instances, the Christian religion becomes a method of "flirting" with Christ in order to accomplish our own will.

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach. (Isaiah 1:4)

We adorn ourselves with various "churchy" embellishments and beauty aids pretending to be something we are not. Christ will have none of that. He wants us to be simple, plain, natural, without any religious adornments of any kind whatever. Christ loves us for what we are, for what He sees in us, not for what we imagine He sees in us.

The "daughters of Jerusalem" adorn themselves with all sorts of religious finery. The true Bride of Christ is the eternal union of Heaven with earth. She is not a product of religion. Christ loves her God-given personality, not a strained and unnatural creation brought into being by the efforts of flesh and blood.

The Bride is raised and trained in the family of God. She feeds the flock dutifully. Then the Lord Jesus comes by and clothes her with His own robe. Her earthly personality is made new in Christ until she is wholly His.

The Bride is a "virgin," that is to say, she is not "married" to any institution, person, thing, role, or circumstance. Christ becomes exceedingly jealous of any person, spirit, or organization that catches the interest of His Bride. He will move quickly until her eyes once again are occupied solely with Himself.

If His efforts to gain her attention are not totally successful, if she continues to be distracted with other persons and things of interest, she will not be accepted. Each of us must guard his own heart carefully if he seeks to be part of the Wife of the Lamb.

Christ is the true Vine. We are the branches grafted on that Vine.

The Father waits until we are ready for grafting. Readiness for grafting varies from individual to individual. There is a unique element in each human personality that is loved by the Lord. He will wait until that element has been developed into the desired fullness; until we are ripe!

Then the pain begins. The Lord opens in us a jagged wound. We cannot understand it. What has happened? Why would Christ whom we serve hurt us like this?

To be continued.