It's amazing how the devil can work his poisonous craft in our faulty sinful hearts. Just this past Sunday we heard God's Word tell us how we are branches of the one true vine, Jesus Christ, and how we abide in that perfection by God's love and gifts in the sacraments. Through his pruning and care we are continually kept healthy on the vine. No disease can rot us away and no sheers will chop us off; no one can snatch us out of his hand.
However, we as fallen sinners can certainly choose not to abide and to fall away. The poison that Satan can inject into us by stirring discord, envy, impatience, and hatred between Christians can drive us away from the faith. Therefore, Jesus delivers this great commandment to us, "love one another as I have loved you." How did he love us? Unconditionally! He loves us in the midst of our worst faults and terrible sins. Dear brothers and sister in Christ, salvation is one for you completely; do not let the devil lure your away from the one true vine. Abide in the love of Jesus and then love one another, forgiving each other in the face of repentance.