Hi, You’re on Speakerphone

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have 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.” John 15:5-10 NKJV

This passage was our focus at church recently. It is an address Jesus gave to his disciples at the last supper knowing he would soon be taken from them. In this translation the word “abide” repeats often. Me being the literary focused person that I am felt inclined to look the word up for deeper meaning for our meditation. The Oxford dictionary had three possible definitions. The first was in relation to a rule or recommendation– accept or act in accordance with. A standard interpretation with not much there to expound upon. The second in regard to someone or something is to be able to tolerate. Also lacking for meaning to the passage. However, the third definition was intriguing to me. To abide in a feeling is to continue without fading or being lost. Another verse came to mind on the heels of this discovery, “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV) I looked at the Christian Standard Bible translation and at the surrounding verses for more context. “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (5:16-18) This notion of speaking to God continuously caused me to frame it in a modern perspective. What if God was on speakerphone?

Any time I’ve had conversations with someone on speakerphone it causes both participants to monitor their behavior. When you let someone know “Hey, you’re on speakerphone” they conduct themselves with the knowledge that others may hear what is being said. Furthermore, if someone enters the room and you inform them that a call is happening on speakerphone, they typically will also modify their behavior to respect the mixed company. If you are at work and someone enters the office while such a call is going on you may even interact with them differently than were the two of you alone. Your whole manner of language may even be different. You may not even need to inform the person you are on a speaker call because the entire way you conduct yourself is such that they realize something is different. So again, what if God was on speakerphone? Would people see that you are different because you interact with them in a whole new manner?

We already know that God sees all and hears all, but what if we, under this “abide” mentality and 1 Thessalonians premise, realized that the line of communication is always live. Would you edit your behavior towards your family, friends, and coworkers if you were aware of your Heavenly bluetoothed earbud? Would people be clued in to your behavior being different because there’s a third party on the line? I would say not only that, but you would also be more aware of when God had something to say to you. Hopefully we wouldn’t respond with “Huh? Did you say something?” Or blame a bad connection for us not hearing clearly. We certainly may go through areas of our lives where the coverage is spotty and the call gets dropped, but to abide in Him means we speed dial right back in because we need that connection. I know personally that I never feel more lost than when I realize the communication has gotten disconnected and I reestablish that link. Perhaps we should make it a habit of when we reach for our phones to also doublecheck that we feel we are on speakerphone with our Sovereign Lord. There is only one carrier that connects us, the Holy Spirit that we are gifted through Jesus Christ. Abide in His love–“continue without fading or being lost.” Be dialed in!