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A few weeks ago I wrote a little about abiding in Christ and said I would write to you more about it. I’ve read more in two books that explains it well which I will list at the end.

Jesus loves us and wants us to abide in His love. In that place, He is surrounding us and empowering us. Abiding in Him, living in the atmosphere of His love.

Living in Him

That is what He wants for us. We carry our own atmosphere surrounded by Him, His love, and all that He is.

As we live like this, God through His Holy Spirit will naturally live out His life through each of us as we live surrendered to Him and abide, or live in His presence all day.

He will love through you. He will show compassion through you. He will bring peace through you. He will demonstrate His holiness, His separateness through you. You will be living a life set apart for Him. Wow! What a privilege to have the Creator living through us!

It takes honesty. No kidding ourselves saying we are abiding when we aren’t. He will abide in us, but we may restrict the flow of His life by our sins. We can’t be fruitful if we prefer what we want over what He wants. See Galatians 5:22 to see whose fruit it is.

Our choice to abide

To the extent that we choose His will over ours will be the extent of our fruit bearing. Is what we want really more important than what He wants? For instance, He wants to be kind through us, but we want to be impatient. If we choose what we want what are we saying? Let’s be blunt. Are we allowing Him to stay on the throne of our hearts? When we choose our will over His, we dethrone Him. His life is hindered.

Abiding in Him is always being aware of His presence in and surrounding you, and choosing to submit to His will. As we abide in Him we allow Him to live through us. There we will find real significance and peace.

Words to light your path this week

John 14:20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. NKJV

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If any one loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. NKJV

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. NKJV

John 15:9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. NKJV

2 Cor. 5:15 that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. NKJV

Prayer – Gracious Father, help us to see that it is all of You. May we choose to keep You on the throne of our hearts as we abide in Jesus knowing we will be abiding in His love. Amen

You might like to read the following:

The Liberating Secret by Norman P. Grubb

The Centrality of the Cross by Jessie Penn-Lewis