Abiding

Lately I've been a little unsure of what to write about on here. I generally can't ramble on about the day and make it a worthwhile read. However, sometimes the things that the Lord teaches me are a little too personal to share on the internet. Also, I have to say I am not the expert on anything I've written about so far (hence the theme verse at the top of the page). I am in no way teaching what I've mastered, rather, I'm sharing what I'm experiencing. It's merely an attempt to improve my expressive writing skills (if that's a skill) and hopefully brighten somebody's day now and then.

All that said, here's the devo of the ...month.... it's been a while....

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" (John 15:4).

The key word here is abide. According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, to abide means to stay (in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy): it's translated abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for) x thine own.

Here the Lord gives me a choice. It is a command, but at the same time, a choice. If I abide in Him, I will bear fruit. If I don't, I won't. Without Him I can do nothing. My need for Him is a fact. My dependence on Him is a choice. Submission. In order to obey, I must choose daily to abide in Him. Every time a circumstance comes to mind that I could dwell on that would interfere with my bond with my Lord, I must choose instead to abide in Christ.

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (Jn. 12:46).

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love" (Jn. 15:10).

"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming" (1 Jn. 2:28).

Abide today, so you will not be ashamed tomorrow.

The only way to be truly content in this life is to abide in Christ alone. Stay near Him continually!

According to the Hebrew implications of the word, abiding in Christ means you are continually pursuing (following hard after), married to, established with HIM. He is the Living Word of God; He is you Head. He has given you His Holy Spirit to be with you always and comfort you (Jn. 14:26-27). Do not drown out His peace with your anxiety (1 Thess. 5:19). His (and your!) Father holds you in His hand and NOTHING can take you out. Dwell there. Do not worry about anything that detracts from this relationship.

ABIDE.