Fifty Bible Words is my first attempt at a completed work. Each week I will post a group of five short devotions from various Scriptures all centered around a specific Bible word.
ABIDING
“Lord, who shall abide in thy
tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy
hill?” Psalm 15:1
An
abode is a place. It may be temporary or
permanent, a tent or a house, tangible or intangible. Vine’s Expository Dictionary gives twelve
variations for the meaning of abide or abiding.
The
first definition has the idea of continuing, not only in a place, but also for
a time. The further definitions indicate
that the place may call for perseverance and constant resistance. Steadfastness, longsuffering, and persistent
loyalty are all qualities that define the word “Abide”.
In
John chapter fifteen the Bible speaks of us abiding in Christ.
When
we compare this to the indicated qualities derived from the definitions we can
see that abiding in Christ is not merely
sitting
in his living room. It is a place of
action, a place of conflict and of supreme devotion.
To
abide in Christ may be illustrated by considering what we actually do when we
abide, what we have around us in our abode, how we care for our abode and the
qualities that are a part of the action of abiding. These qualities reveal our
attitude and determine the benefit we derive from the action of abiding.
If
we are actively abiding in Christ we will have an inward desire to be with Him.
There will be excitement with great anticipation to get home to Him if we are away. We
will have assurance of comfort and a warm familiarity that will bring joy and
peace. We will agree and act upon the old
adage, “There is no place like home.”
Does that describe your relationship
with Christ?
ABIDING
“If
ye abide in me, and my words abide in you…”
John 15:7
Let’s
take a look at what is around you. What do you have? Creature comforts? Family heirlooms? Significant others? Things that define you? Treasures you hold dear? Extra stuff?
Cluttered closets? New and used
furniture? Etc.
Now,
consider: if it all disappeared what would remain? Are you truly defined by the household things
around you, or do you have intangible, eternal treasures?
Our
life on earth is temporary, very temporary.
It will pass away. For all the
effort and love put into making the place you call home, it is not eternal. On the other hand, you are eternal. Your soul
will live forever. The “home of the
soul” is not only a place, but also an eternal time zone.
Think
about it. If you paid as much attention
to the quality and care of your soul as you do to your temporal abode, would
you not be abiding in Christ in a fuller fashion? Would you not enjoy deeper fellowship and
joy? Would not the inward abiding be
reflected in your outward abode? It is
really odd to live inside out. Better
check. If your heart is outside your
soul, you are unhealthy and in real danger.
See Matthew 6:21
However,
if you can recognize that the tangible things around you are temporal and that
your physical home is not your true riches, you are is a much better
state. The qualities of love, peace,
joy, security, contentment, God’s Word hidden in the heart and a working
knowledge of your stand in Christ are much firmer foundations for abiding and
much richer treasures than the ornaments around you.
Where
are you abiding in a temporal house, or in an eternal home?
ABIDING
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide
in you…” John 15:7
This
form of abiding has to do more with action than with a place. The word, “if”, indicates that it is a
choice. We choose to “abide in Christ”,
or, we choose not to.
The
action of abiding is illustrated again by our own lives. To abide in the active form means that we
live in a place. We eat there. We sleep there. We dream there. It is the place where we retreat and find
refuge. Abiding also means that we care
not only for the furnishing of the abode, but for the attitudes and actions
that happen within that abode.
If
we apply this to our “abiding in Christ”, we will see that our choice to abide
necessitates our activity with Christ.
Either he dwells with us, or he does not. If he is invited to be a part of our lives we
will involve him in our decision, in our joys, in our sorrows, in all that
makes up our abiding. Christ will be the
central theme of our lives.
The
abiding is also mutual. If we will
choose to abide in Christ, he will choose to abide with us. “He
that abideth in me, and I in him…” (Verse 5) Christ will not force his way into our
lives. We must initiate the invitation. He
stands at the door and knocks.
Have you invited him in? He is the only way of salvation.
Are you abiding in him? He is the only way of sanctification.
ABIDING
“…He
that abideth in me…bringeth forth much fruit.”
John 15:5
The Bible has many illustrations about
how a person cares for their home or farm or life. If we apply these to “abiding” we can see
some examples on how we should abide.
The woman in Proverbs 31 looked well
to the ways of her household. She put in
the long nights. She prepared herself
and anticipated the difficulties ahead.
She knew the value of a well run home.
She was very involved with her abiding.
The husbandman also puts in the long
hours of ploughing and planting. He
watches the weather and harvests in the right time and stores his grain for the
future. His abiding is organized and
deliberate.
The parable of the woman who lost a coin
shows that she swept her house until she found the coin that was so valuable to
her. Her diligence produced rejoicing.
These three examples alone show that
we must put ourselves into the process or activity of abiding in order to be
productive. Remember the definitions
from the first devotion? “…the place may
call for perseverance and constant resistance.
Steadfastness, longsuffering, and persistent loyalty are all qualities
that define the word “Abide”.”
There is actually hard work involved
in abiding. And why should we be
surprised? Anything of real value has a price.
So, are you willing to do your spiritual
homework? Are you keeping your spiritual abode garnished and clean? Do you place real value on it? Do you see it sparkle and shine or are there
some dusty mirrors and cobwebs in the corner?
ABIDING
“If
ye abide in me, and my words abide in you…”
John 15:7
What do you do in your abode? Eat, sleep, laugh, cry, retreat, rise up and
lie down, work, sing, play, dress, prepare, etc.?
From our abodes we do life. So, should it be in our spiritual life, and
not to divorce the two, for both are a part of the other. Acts 17:25 & 28 “…seeing he giveth to all
life, and breath and all things…for in Him we live and move, and have our
being…”
So to abide in Christ is to be drawing
from the source of life to empower us to live.
We feed upon His Word. We rest in
His promise. We rejoice in His
love. We pour out our heart before
Him. We find solace. We begin the day with Him and end the day
with Him. We serve. We sing.
We even play knowing recreation and restoration of spirit are His gifts. We put on the full armour of God and stay
vigilant and prepared to stand and to serve.
Colossians 1:10-12 & 16-18 “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto
all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,
unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the
Father…For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible…all things were created by him, and for him: and
he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head…
that in all thing HE MIGHT HAVE THE PREEMINENCE.”
Christ is our life. And if we abide in him the promise of John
15:7 is….”ye shall ask what ye will, and
it shall be done unto you. Do you
abide close enough to claim the promise?
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