The Apostle John, so in love with our Lord Jesus, experienced
abiding with Christ in person and passed this experience along to us in His
letters. He spent hours of unbroken fellowship with the Lord. He considered
himself one of Jesus' best friends, beloved by Him.
We too can enjoy this same intimate relationship with
Jesus, because He lives IN us by His Spirit. To abide in Christ literally means
to dwell in Him, not to wander off, and to stand as if rooted to the spot.
Jesus said He was equal with God (John 10:38). The
Pharisees were offended by this declaration, because they did not understand
that they too could enjoy unbroken fellowship with God through Christ and His
Spirit.
God dwelt in Jesus in the same way that He dwells in us
(John 14:11). His character and nature are evident in our life as we mature
spiritually and continually die to our old carnal nature (John 14:10).
Although Jesus literally and physically returned to His
home in Heaven, He did not abandon us alone on this earth. He gave us His
Spirit as our comforter and guide.
Jesus will return for us in time for our wedding feast as
His Bride (John 14:18-20); but until then, His Holy Spirit sanctifies us more
each day as we believe in Christ and remain in this vital union with Jesus and
our Father.
We live and function in the same manner that Jesus walked
with our Father during His lifetime (1 John 2:6-27, 3:6). If we desire to live
in His will, He provides us with what we need each moment of the day.
We can do greater works simply because we, as His Body,
are greater in number and He abides within all of us. All He needs is our
availability and obedience to His Spirit on a continual basis as we walk in His
will (John 14:3-15).
We eat His flesh and drink His blood, ingesting Him into
our spirit, soul and body and drawing our nourishment from Him (John 6:56). We
are united with Him and He is our whole life (Colossians 3:4).
Prayer:
Father God, You cleanse us with the blood of Jesus, our
perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29). Thank You for choosing to give us His
righteousness in place of our old, carnal nature and making us a new creation
in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We covet our time with You as You provide us
with holy fellowship with You throughout the day.
Help us to continue in Your Word, for Your Word is life
to our spirit and soul (John 8:31; 1 John 2:19-24). Remind us to keep Your
commandments for they lead us on the path of holiness and help us to avoid the
destruction reaped from a life of sin and degradation (John 15:9-10).
Thought for the Day:
Christ's life flows through us, just as the nutrients of
the Vine empower the branches to bear fruit; but if we break
fellowship with Him and grieve His Spirit through sin, pride or rebellion, we
lose this perfect union until we repent.
- John 15:4; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19
