By Connor Dennis
Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions—living the same day over and over again, running on empty, and never quite feeling fully alive? I think many of us have been there. It’s that sense of chasing after the same old comforts, only to find they don’t truly satisfy. What if the problem isn’t that you’re not doing enough, but that you’re rooted in the wrong thing?
Jesus gives us a powerful image in John 15: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” In other words, a life connected to Him is one that thrives—not because of our own strength, but because His grace flows through us.
The truth is, grace isn’t just a single moment when you accept Christ. It’s not just that first spark of salvation or forgiveness of sin. Grace is ongoing—it’s the very life of Christ flowing into you, sustaining you, shaping you, and empowering you to love others. When you see grace as just a one-time gift, you risk turning faith into a checklist or a memory of the past. But when you understand grace as an active, daily connection, it becomes a source of joy, growth, and transformation.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, talked about grace in three ways: prevenient grace (God reaching out before we even know we need Him), justifying grace (the moment we are made right with God), and sanctifying grace (the daily work of the Spirit shaping us into Christlikeness). That last one—sanctifying grace—is where we learn to abide. It’s where the real fruit begins to grow in our lives.
So, what does it look like to abide in Christ and be rooted in grace?
- Stay connected to the source. Spend time with God in prayer, Scripture, and worship—not as a duty, but as a way to draw life from Him.
- Respond with love. Grace isn’t meant to stop with you. As Christ’s love flows in, let it overflow in tangible acts of kindness and service.
- Practice gratitude. A thankful heart helps you see God’s hand at work and gives you strength to extend grace to others.
The invitation Jesus gives is not to simply remember a past moment of faith, but to remain connected to Him daily—to let His grace continually make you more alive, more joyful, and more loving. That’s what it means to be rooted in grace.
So the question for you today is: what are you rooted in? And are you ready to let grace be the source that sustains and transforms your life?
Stay rooted in grace, and watch the fruit grow.