Abiding

One of my favorite things in life right now is the way my daughter snuggles with me. Yeah, I know I’m a softie. I can’t help it! And I can assure you, I haven’t always been this sympathetic! It’s funny how the Lord uses a baby girl to soften your heart! Recently, we’ve stopped swaddling her. Meaning, we’ve stopped tying down her arms and legs. So, she’s having to learn what to do with her arms and legs…which is actually pretty funny to watch. At times, she reminds me of a turtle lying on her back with arms and legs flaying about. But, the awesome part is now that her arms are free, when I pick her up in the mornings she instantly wraps her arms around my neck as she snuggles her head into my shoulder, which is usually followed by an affectionate beard tug. I’m telling you, if that doesn’t melt your heart—you need to check your pulse!

It’s this imagery that somewhat describes the word abide. Now, stay with me for a moment. In John 15:1-11, Jesus uses the word ‘abide/s’ 10 times. I think he may be trying to make a point. He wants his disciples to understand that if they want to be his followers, if they want to bear fruit that lasts, if they want to carry out the mission he has left for them—they must abide in him. They can’t do it on their own, in their own strength. They must dwell in him. Abide, literally means to ‘await, remain, dwell or to rest, sit or tarry’ (Louw-Nida Lexicon). So, the picture behind abide is to rest and dwell with Jesus. The promise behind it is that we will be fruitful when it comes to eternal matters. Jesus, the true vine, is our lifeline to being fruitful branches. Branches not in the lifeline (i.e. Jesus) don’t produce fruit, those who abide in the True Vine, produce fruit that will last. In short, I think God wants us to continually nestle our heads on his shoulder. And as much joy and happiness I have when my daughter snuggles with me, our Father has infinitely more joy and happiness when we abide in him.

For some of us, it’s hard to imagine that the God of the universe wants us to abide in him or more so that he takes delight and pleasure when we do abide in him. Don’t confuse want and need. He doesn’t need us to abide; really, he doesn’t need us for anything. Instead, how much more of a privilege and mystery that he wants us to abide in him. Let me be clear, I’m not trying to reduce God to encompass all the humanistic emotions we have. I’m not trying to read God through my own lens of personal experiences…because I understand that every analogy we have with regards to God will ultimately fall short to encompass and communicate a ‘wholly other’ God. But, I believe my point is still valid. Zephaniah 3:17 is a verse that has been taken out of context countless times. Yet, the point of this verse is clear ‘God rejoices over his people with gladness…and exalts over us with loud singing’, when we as his people, as his Bride, seek his face wholeheartedly, when we abide in him, God Almighty enjoys us.

I’d like to challenge you this week to focus on abiding in Christ through His Word, His Spirit, and service to others. If we abide in the love of Christ then we are free and empowered to in turn love our neighbor as God has called us to. Abide in Christ this week. Share the love and mercy you experience through abiding in him with a broken and lost world.

In Christ,
Pastor Brent