Abide

Well summer is in full swing here in Jack County with one hundred degree temperatures on the daily and in the forecast for the next week and beyond. It's been 105 + degrees here, and my chickens all came and wanted in on the action. I turn the water hose on then gently showering the chickens. At first they were hesitant and frightened. Now they are excited and are purposely getting in the water spraying from the hose. They will then start grooming and shaking the excess water off. It seems they really enjoy it as they anxiously await my return to the coop later, while thinking maybe he will cool us off again if we can abide and hang in here a little longer. I often times forget and need to be reminded how important is for us to abide in Jesus Christ and just hang in there a little longer. It is easy to get sideways when a little heat is applied or we get outside the coop so to speak as I think about our chickens in relation. Abiding in Christ is not a feeling or a belief, but something we do. It means to “remain” or “stay” and intertwined far more than the idea of continuing without being lost. John 15:5 further illustrates this abiding relationship with a parallel relationship of a vine and a branch. It is interesting to know the antonym for our “word” abide is to reject, fade or disappear as if we have a better way or think we can do it anyway but God’s way, as it is and can be restrictive. Perhaps the greatest need for believers today is to develop a higher spiritual discipline of abiding in Jesus Christ and His word. Even though it is great to be able to think and reason with Biblical accuracy there is something even more important and that is abiding in Jesus. Many of the things we think we need are symptomatic of a far more serious problem. There is a deeper need to know, commune and fellowship with Jesus on a moment-by-moment basis. This can be seen in the quality and persistence of our praise and prayer discipline. In my lifetime I have seen many Christian leaders know how to write, preach, teach, organize, develop evangelistic strategies and administer programs, but many have forgotten to pray without ceasing. We need to develop a progressing maturity in our prayer life that will transform us, deepen us and purify us with the mind and power of the Holy Ghost of Jesus Christ. In 2 Peter 3:18 Jesus provides us with a conditional promise in this verse. That is if we want to see our prayers answered we must abide in Him and let His word abide in us. That means to cling to Him and His word with trust, obedience and communion with our God. We need a deeper, more personal and more biblical communion with God in prayer so we can grow more in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This means that we need to find ways to incorporate a greater quantity and quality of private prayer, praise prayer, confessional prayer, requisition prayer, intercessory prayer and healing prayer, all for the purpose of abiding in Him and allowing His word to abide in us. If I want to be what God wants me to be it is necessary for me to abide in Him and to allow His word to dwell richly in my mind. How much time and effort do you spend in memorizing and meditating on His Word. In Joshua 1:8, God told Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you will meditate on it, day and night so that you may be careful to do, for then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will have good success. The best way to allow Jesus to abide in us is by allowing His word to fill our mind, heart, soul and emotions with His perspective. Often this means being creative. In Colossians 3:16, Paul wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with songs and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody in your hearts and whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. The branch cannot bear fruit unless it gains all of its minerals, nutrients and support from the Vine. It is easy for us to take our relationship with Jesus for granted and fail to appropriate the rich reservoir of resources that are available to those who gain a deeper spiritual overflow of His Life into ours. It may be on a drive to work, or a walk around the block. It could be while you are just alone in a quiet place away from all distractions and interruptions. In closing, There is something special and private about my walks with the Lord everyday as it helps me step back and remove myself, and there I will find a richer dimension added, perspective and guidance to my abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. Also I believe the burden of abiding is not on the Lord but on us. As Jesus giving us a promise when He says, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.” What a great promise to have. So make it a great day for yourself and someone else as we live to love and share Jesus with others.

Psalms 91:1-2

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

John 15: 6- 7

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.