REVEALING GOD DEVOTIONAL - ABIDING IN HIM
Praise God for a day of peace, and I believe that you will also experience God’s peace. Today, I want to talk a little more on why we should abide with God.
It has always been said that some of the best words of men are spoken just before death. When Jesus was concluding His ministry, He began to give His final counsel to His disciples. One of the words He used about 14 times in just one chapter of the scriptures is the word “Abide”. This ought to tell us that Jesus was pointing out something very important with that word. The word “Abide” means “continue” or “remain”. I have noticed that starting something is not the problem — it is maintaining it. Many people start well but stop in the middle because they did not continue to keep their initial principles.
Jesus was giving an unbendable key to lasting and unshakable success in Christianity — this is the key of abiding in Him. Jesus used the analogy of the vine and its branches to describe the kind of relationship a Christian has with Him. He said that a branch is only productive when it is connected to the vine, but once it is cut off, it cannot produce any results. Likewise, a Christian cannot serve God properly without abiding in Him. The scripture says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
As Christians, we must not be too carried away or forget that Jesus is our source of life and strength if we must accomplish anything in this world for Him. Without Him we can do nothing but struggle aimlessly in life. If you got born again by calling Jesus your Lord, then you must make Him your Lord in practice to enjoy the full benefit of salvation. This should tell us that Christianity should not be as hard as it might seem, if we only draw strength from God while living it.
The sad thing, though, is that many Christians have forgotten that Jesus is their Lord, while others who think they are still connected to Him actually are not. The scripture tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8), but it didn’t say that we cannot be separated from Him. In fact, Jesus is telling us in John 15 that we can be separated from Him even while we call ourselves Christians. The danger in that is that we become prone to the enemy’s attack. Jesus said that once a person is not abiding in Him or continuing with Him, he is cast forth as a branch and withers. And once that happens, all the works He was doing in that person will soon start to die off. As it dies off, men will be able to attack and torment him. The scripture says, “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” (John 15:6).
So how do you abide in Him? Jesus said if a man is able to keep His commandments, then he will abide in His love. This commandment that Jesus is referring to is simply walking in love. The love of God must be the motivation for what we do in Christianity, if not we will not be able to maintain it. Jesus said, “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” (John 15:10).
Let us learn to fall in love with Jesus by discovering God’s love for us. Have a blessed day!
Today’s Reading:
John 15, Proverbs 12---
Nevertheless, if you are not born again you can do so today by saying this simple prayer below out with your mouth in faith, believing that Jesus Christ died and rose again for your sins.
Prayer for Salvation
Dear Lord, I believe Jesus died and rose again for me. Forgive me my sins and come into my life. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Thank you Father for doing this for me. Reveal yourself to me today. In Jesus name, Amen.
Congrats, your status has changed to that of a child of God, if you said this prayer in faith.