“My Father [God], is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples,” John 15:8.
Church attendance in the United States has declined at the rate of 42% a year. The weekly attendance in the years of 2021-24, with adults attending church weekly, has dropped 30% and climbing. This does not include children of all ages. This decline is the fastest and largest shift ever. It’s due to the fact that Americans have no affiliation with Christ or the church. We see a nine percent decline in the years of 2000-20 to now a 30% in the years of 2021 to 2024. About 40 million adults in America used to go to church but no longer do. That’s 30% a week with no respect for God or the church at all. Do to this declining shift, the crime rate in America has increased.
- Violence has increased from 380% to 747% per 100,000 people. That’s 369.8 cases per 100,000.
- Property crimes have increased from 1,954% to 4,740 per 100,000 people.
- Violent crimes in ages 12 to 21 have increased from 23.5% to 79.8% per 1,000 people.
- Automobile theft rose 283 per 100,000 from 15.1% in 2023 to 17.3% already in 2024.
- Homicide is 32% higher.
- Gun assaults rose 48%.
- Shoplifting rose 37% (9.09% of Americans shoplift).
- Residential burglary rose 24%.
- Carjacking rose 94%.
- Aggravated assault rose 11%.
- Overall, America’s crime rate is up from 47% to 77%.
It’s time to take action.
What did Jesus mean when He spoke of abiding in Him? To abide means to dwell, remain, obey, hold fast to, heed, uphold, agree to, or to go along with. Abide means to accept, acknowledge, to respect, to pay attention to, to stick to, or comply. To abide gives the idea of being fully empowered with thoughts and meaning to the authority of God. It’s a lifestyle for serious commitment, and a long-term relationship. One must evaluate one’s relationship with God. Decide if this is really what I want and am looking for in in my life. Do I want to be totally committed? To be totally committed to God takes dedication. Nobody casually agrees to abide to a higher power for the rest of their life without giving serious thought to all that may and will be involved.
In the text, Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I will abide in you,” John 15:4.
Not only are we to abide in Jesus, but Jesus Himself declared that He will abide in us!
In John 15:1-2, Jesus says I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. The one that cultivates and looks after us. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit, He [God] removes, prunes, cuts, and weeds out. Every branch in Him will produce fruit and more fruit.
This is a picture of love from a loving Creator who desires a relationship with His children. God is working to provide a way for all who love Him.
When we abide in Him, there is a cleansing that takes place in your life. This cleansing in you is by the word of God, the Bible. The Bible gives you a new start in life and helps you remain in Him through His Son Jesus Christ, so that He will be Lord of your life. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you unless you remain in Jesus Christ. He said: “I am the vine; You are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in them will produce much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me [Jesus].”
