“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."

Jesus said those words in John 15:4 & 5. Abiding is greater than striving, because without Him, we can do nothing. By abiding in Christ we receive God's power to enable us and His Word to inform us. We partake of His very life living in us. Therefore we should cultivate a zeal for good works.

2 Peter 1:5 - 7 lists 7 qualities we pursue, rooted in and dependent on God's gracious gift, not in our own efforts or self-righteousness. Cultivating these qualities is one way we abide in the Vine.