COME, FOLLOW & REMAIN
(6-minute read)
To follow someone on social media requires little effort and commitment. All it takes is a click on the mouse or a tap on our phone screens. Many of us follow or are followed by people who have no personal connection with us. Together, we form an imagined community (a term coined by Benedict Anderson) consisting of people who respond to each other’s posts. It is no surprise that many believers follow Jesus in pretty much the same way: they join a church or a faith group like they join Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, they log in to online ministries like BeInReach watching a ‘live feed’ on social media with others, and they cite verses here and there like posting online comments. Often, people mistake their felt connectivity for actual relationships.
All this is to say that Jesus, in His days, attracted many followers, few truly abided in Him or shared a genuine relationship with Him. Yet He consistently spoke about a two-way relationship with Him: one that ignites our life purpose, similar to how a light bulb can only emit light when connected to God’s infinite source of power. Indeed, the power grid has more power than a single bulb can ever use!
Jesus’ teachings on the imperative of staying connected to Him can be found in John 15:4-5: “Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”
The word ‘remain’ has a rich meaning. In Hebrew, it means to abide, journey with or dwell in. It is not a once-and-done occurrence. Jesus invites us to dwell in His presence and to share an unending bond with Him. Like any true relationship, our relationship with God will test our character and sincerity because it will disrupt our lives, upset our plans, invade our private thoughts, and often run in conflict with our perception of realities.
So what hinders us from remaining in Jesus?
We may say we fail to demonstrate certain qualities, or do certain things that keep our relationship with God sustainable. Ultimately though, it boils down to three common factors.
Firstly, without sounding too legalistic, disobedience simply describes two things: it is an outcome when we find God’s ways and His requirements too demanding, and it becomes a behaviour when we turn to more desirable alternatives.
Secondly, distractions are things that draw us away from maintaining the habit of remaining in God. If we are honest, we would say that it's something we wished we could do more often.
Finally, discouragement happens when hurts and unmet expectations stay unresolved because people feel pressured to hide their pain, or they lack healthy ways to process them.
Together, disobedience, distractions and discouragement are common reasons people drift away from God, who is their true Source of Life.
What then can help us remain in God?
It’s been said that habits can make or break us. This is true especially about habits that help us form intimacy with God and those that create estrangement from Him. Believers need to be vigilant and discerning about the habits that impact our faith journey. Our spiritual health requires discipline as much as our physical fitness demands regular training.
In this regard, it helps to be mindful of three things:
1. Put to Death Anything that Hinders
Ungodly habits need to be put to death and given a funeral, and these include any behaviour and attitude that do not promote godliness. In other words, sin is as much as the wrong that we do as it is also the good that we hold back from doing.
The Bible says we are to be decisive about eliminating obvious and hidden bad habits. Ordinarily, these would include negative thought patterns, silent pride hidden behind a crave for recognition, constant people pleasing that lacks honesty, and downplaying responsibilities while appearing “spiritual” outwardly. We are told to “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5). At the same time, we are also instructed to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (Hebrews 12:1-2).
2. Faith Community to Spur Us On
Regardless of how long we have been believers, there is no such thing as a self-help Christian. Even underground churches in Vietnam and China are made up of believers who are accountable to one another in close connection with each other. We need to seek out people whose lives demonstrate a close walk with God, people who pray for us and speak prophetically over us, and people who are personally interested in our spiritual growth. They will help us keep faith-building habits more intentionally, and kick faith-busting habits more forcefully. Conversely, people who are afraid of offending us are incapable of loving us in the biblical way.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). And “let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
3. Continual Communion with God
Our connection with God does not operate on an automatic auto-pilot mode. Whether we admit it or not, most of our relationships (in the family and with friends) remain on a transactional level, with little intention for the relationship to grow deeper. But our relationship with God is one that requires our response for closer engagement. We don’t need to know everything about God to experience His love. We cannot educate ourselves to be closer to God: we need to experience Him in our realities to grow deeper in love with Him.
John 15:9-11 tells us that we need to remain in God’s love. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
In the security of God’s perfect love, we will confront all that inhibit our relationship with God so that we can remain in Him and live out a faith-activated life that is clear for all to see.
This is a summary and reflection based on a virtual BIR Session held on 27 July 2025.
