ABIDE!

1 John 2:28 AMP

Now, little children (believers, dear ones), remain in Him [with unwavering faith], so that when He appears [at His return], we may have [perfect] confidence and not be ashamed and shrink away 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.

In John 15:4, the word “remain” or “abide” means to stay in one place. The multiple use indicates its importance. The one place believers are to stay is in Christ. We are to stay in Him as plants rooted in the ground of His love (Ephesians 3:17), as members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), as stones in His temple (Ephesians 2:20-22), as members of His household (Hebrews 3:6), and as branches in Him, the Vine. He tells us to stay in Him. Does this imply that we may not, or that some will not? Not necessarily. It implies that God will enable us to do so; otherwise, He would not command it. It also implies that He wants us to know our freedom. Remaining in Christ is something believers do consciously and willingly. We are not puppets or robots. God wants us to apply our minds and wills to the business of being Christians.

The spiritual life is not automatic but dynamic. It is not a life of mutual compulsion between Christ and His people, but one of mutual love. Believers are in Christ and remain in Him because they want to do so. He chose them, and they choose to follow Him. They love Him. Their freedom does not cause them to leave Christ, but to remain in Him.

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.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

·         In what practical ways am I intentionally abiding in Christ each day through His Word, prayer, and obedience?

·         What distractions, fears, or habits are pulling me away from remaining fully rooted in Christ?

·         What fruit is God producing in my life as I remain in Him, and where is He calling me to trust Him more deeply?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me into a living and enduring relationship with You through Jesus Christ. Teach me to abide in You daily, to remain rooted in Your Word, steadfast in prayer, and obedient to Your will. In a world that is unstable and uncertain, keep my heart fixed on You as my refuge, strength, and unfailing security. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

We invite you to prayerfully consider partnering with us to continue sharing the gospel and changing lives. You can support this ministry in two simple ways: 

✅ Share this message on your platforms and with your contacts to help spread the word. 

✅ Sow a seed to help us carry on the work of the ministry and reach more people for Christ. 

Follow the Fresh Manna channel on Telegram: https://t.me/freshmdevo 

Follow the Fresh Manna channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029va8y5tqajpxp6kzdox1j 

FRESH MANNA/blogger.com 

Email: teewomenoflight@outlook.com 

Your partnership makes a difference! Together, we can impact lives for God’s kingdom. We truly appreciate your generosity and support. 

💳 Bank Details for Contributions 

Bank Name: Barclays Bank 

Account Name: B. Okoh 

Sort Code: 20-10-71 

Account Number: 53178420 

PayPal: prodbyjayt1@gmail.com 

Shalom