Abide In Me

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:5 NKJV

When I looked up the word “abide” in the dictionary I found several interesting things.  In the verb tense one of “abide” definitions means to accept without objection.  Isn’t that what Jesus wants of us?  He wants us to accept Him without objection.  Isn’t that what has to happen for us to be saved?  We must accept Jesus for who He is and believed He died for us.

The list of definitions also said it meant to remain stable or fixed in a state. This coincides with instructions from Paul as he exhorts us to keep our thoughts fixed on good things in Philippians 4:8-9.  We are instructed to renew our minds by letting God’s change the way we think in Romans 12:2.

One last definition was how “abide” also means to continue in place: sojourn.  This one really struck me because God has told us repeatedly throughout the whole Bible we are strangers and sojourners here on earth.

Leviticus 25:23 says “for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.”

Psalm 39:12 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.”

One Peter 2:11-12 says “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Paul tells us to think on heavenly things instead of the temporary things (2 Corinthians 4:18).   The reason to think about heavenly things is to remind us this life is not all there is.  Heaven awaits us and earth is our temporary home.  We are to keep this perspective in all we do.  We cling tightly to Jesus Christ who is our sustainer, our provider and our very life. In  doing so we abide in Him.

Lord Jesus, thank you for being life to us.  Help us remember we are sojourners here on earth.  Teach us to enjoy what we have, use the opportunities we’re given to share God’s love with others and use our gifts, talents, and abilities to honor you.  In your name we pray. Amen.

~Elizabeth Marks~