ABIDE!

1 John 2:28 AMPC

And now, little children, abide (live, remain permanently) in Him, so that when He is made visible, we may have and enjoy perfect confidence (boldness, assurance) and not be ashamed and shrink from Him at His coming.


Abide is the close, intimate, and enduring relationship with God. In the Bible, the word "abide" is often used to describe a close, intimate, and enduring relationship with God. To abide in God is to remain connected to Him, to dwell in His presence, and to live according to His will. In John 15:4-5, Jesus says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." This emphasizes the importance of remaining connected to Jesus for spiritual growth and fruitfulness.

With life as it is now—messy, unrecognizable, unpredictable, and easily flipped—we need a stable thing, person, and place to abide that is unshakable, immovable, and unchanging, as stable as the Lord, God. John 8:31 states, "If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine." This highlights the need to live by and remain in God's teachings. Abiding in the Lord is the one sure way we can remain secure in a very slippery world.

We must all learn to stay within the protective presence of God, where we are shielded from all danger and defended from all attacks. Abiding in God involves a continuous, intimate relationship with Him, characterized by trust, obedience, and reliance on His presence and guidance.

In the Old Testament, abiding often relates to dwelling or remaining in God's presence and maintaining a close, enduring relationship with God through trust, obedience, and dwelling in His presence. The Psalms frequently mention abiding in God's presence. For example, Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." This verse emphasizes the safety and protection found in staying close to God.

Abiding also involves obedience to God's commandments and an intimate relationship with Him. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Moses instructs the Israelites to keep God's words in their hearts and teach them diligently to their children. This reflects a continuous, intimate relationship with God through adherence to His laws. This tells us that abiding is physical, mental, and spiritual. Abiding in God means not just acknowledging His existence, but wholeheartedly surrendering to and residing in His presence every moment of our lives. Just as a branch remains connected to the vine, we are called to remain deeply rooted in Christ, allowing His teachings, love, and truth to nourish our souls.

Henry Lyte coined the phrase, “It is better to wear out than to rust out.” And he wore out when he was fifty-four years old, an obscure pastor who laboured for twenty-three years in a poor church in a fishing village in Devonshire, England. The hymn, “Abide with Me,” written shortly before his death, was inspired by the words of the two disciples met by Jesus on the road to Emmaus: “Abide with us, [they said,] for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent” (Luke 24:29). The fourth stanza carries such hope for Christians. As Lyte wrote this, he knew he was dying of tuberculosis and asthma. It was “eventide” for him, darkness was deepening, and he felt very much alone. But he was not alone, and we are not alone even in our darkest times. Our Lord is with us, “the help of the helpless,” the one who never changes, our guide and security. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

That’s the blessed assurance of serving a living God: He abides with us always, here on earth and in eternity, and we would do well to abide in Him always.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to always abide in, and with you because you alone can save and deliver me in every circumstance in Jesus’ name, amen. 

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/womenoflight/episodes/ABIDE-e2rbksa

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SHALOM


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