Remaining

"Yes, I (Jesus) am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing... If you abide (remain) in Me, and My words abide (remain) 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 (remain) in My love." John 15:5 & 7-9 (Italicized emphasis mine)

I have at times wondered about this scripture. Ever practical, I've asked:  "Lord how does one abide/REMAIN in Your love?" Then I see where in that same chapter, down in verse 10 Jesus says: "When you obey Me you remain in my love." Then the thought: 'So Lord, are You saying if we disobey that You no longer love us?' 

And then He reminds me of the story of the prodigal son- The son chose to leave home. HE chose to not remain in his Fathers love. He ran away from it. He did his own thing and did not do the things that pleased his Father.  But his Father never stopped loving him. He never stopped looking for him. He never stopped longing for him to come home. 

So although the son decided to not remain in his Fathers love, the Fathers love never wavered. It remained right there, waiting for the son to return to it. And when the son finally came to his senses in the pig pen, he wisely returned home to the loving embrace of his Father. And there he found his Daddy...standing at the gate, waiting, watching for him, longing for His dear child to come home. 

And I have a feeling that after that, the son had no problem remaining in his Fathers love. Because he found that there's just no better place to be.