Jesus described an intimate relationship with Him by using the word "abiding." And He illustrated "abiding" as the life-giving, life-sustaining, dependent connection between a branch and the vine. Such a connection always results in the bearing of fruit--fruit that reflects the nature of the vine. The person who is abiding in Christ reflects Christ's likeness--His love, His joy--a joy that no person or no sorrow can take away, His commitment to doing the Father's will--"I ...do always those things that please Him, and His unity with the Spirit. If I am in Him and He is in me, I will bear much fruit. People will know I have been with Jesus, and that the life I live is His life.
The more intimate my relationship with Him becomes,--the more dependent I am on the Vine--the more three attitudes will dominate my daily choices. And the Christian walk, the abiding, must be a daily, step-by-step, choice-by choice-life. What are those three attitudes? a focus on His presence in my life, an unwavering desire for His will, and a confident trust in His goodness at work in all things. I must not only recognize that I am daily in His presence, but that He is daily in mine. He is not only "watching" all that I do, He is a participant in my choices. The choices I make tell the world that this is what Jesus is like, this is what He would do and say in this circumstance. (And they are watching.) I must also be totally focused on His will being done--not in some vague lifetime commitment, but in each choice that I make all day long, every day. My prayer must be that on this day, in this moment, with this choice, I will do His will--do what pleases Him--not me, not even others, but Christ alone. And I must trust that He is using my obedience to do good. The "visible" consequences of my choices must not undermine my confidence in His wisdom and His love--His goodness. He is The Promise Keeper.
A deepening relationship with Him must be my daily prayer--an abiding walk. Each day can be lived with a sense of His presence, an unwavering dedication to His will, and a confident trust in His goodness. Then, no matter what the day brings, my strength will rest on that joy that no one and no sorrow can destroy.
The more intimate my relationship with Him becomes,--the more dependent I am on the Vine--the more three attitudes will dominate my daily choices. And the Christian walk, the abiding, must be a daily, step-by-step, choice-by choice-life. What are those three attitudes? a focus on His presence in my life, an unwavering desire for His will, and a confident trust in His goodness at work in all things. I must not only recognize that I am daily in His presence, but that He is daily in mine. He is not only "watching" all that I do, He is a participant in my choices. The choices I make tell the world that this is what Jesus is like, this is what He would do and say in this circumstance. (And they are watching.) I must also be totally focused on His will being done--not in some vague lifetime commitment, but in each choice that I make all day long, every day. My prayer must be that on this day, in this moment, with this choice, I will do His will--do what pleases Him--not me, not even others, but Christ alone. And I must trust that He is using my obedience to do good. The "visible" consequences of my choices must not undermine my confidence in His wisdom and His love--His goodness. He is The Promise Keeper.
A deepening relationship with Him must be my daily prayer--an abiding walk. Each day can be lived with a sense of His presence, an unwavering dedication to His will, and a confident trust in His goodness. Then, no matter what the day brings, my strength will rest on that joy that no one and no sorrow can destroy.
"Just a closer walk with Thee; grant it Jesus is my plea. Daily walking close to Thee; let it be Dear Lord, let it be."
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