ABIDING IN JESUS

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 31 May 2012

Hi all,

Today we meditate on what it means to “Abide in the Vine”. Truth is best brought with humour. 

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

PO Box 1694, Randpark Ridge, 2156, South Africa.

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 31 May 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	ABIDING IN JESUS
Looking at the first Scripture today; abide in Him, is the topic for today’s meditation. I’ve included most of the other Scriptures. Hopefully you will enjoy the humorous touch! Humour is the best way to convey bad news. This approach has come about as a result of what is implied by “abiding” in Jesus. Essentially, abiding in Him means to live like He did; imitating Him as much as humanly possible. The expression “living seamlessly” could well be a good way to put it. Of course, for us that is impossible! Not without the help and guidance of His Spirit. Abiding in Him does not mean speaking the way He did. We can train parrots to do that; parrots can never be Christian. It means to live a lifestyle like His. It’s a question of behaviour rather than speech. In this way, behaviour underlies speech. I’m vividly reminded of the expression, “Do as I say, not as I do!” Parents are often accused by their children of such hypocrisy. John Gill, the 18th century theologian commented on 1 John 2:28-29 as follows: - The visible proof of being a Christian is right behaviour. Many people do good deeds but don't have faith in Jesus Christ. Others claim to have faith but rarely produce good deeds. A deficit in either faith or right behaviour will be a cause for shame when Christ returns. Because true faith always results in good deeds, those who claim to have faith and who consistently do what is right are true believers. Good deeds cannot produce salvation (see Eph. 2:8-9), but they are necessary proof that true faith is actually present (see James 2:14-17). It is particularly distressing that men believe they could “make a decision” for Jesus 30 years ago. From then on they believe they can do anything at all. They may sin indiscriminately and God will not hold them accountable. But it is inconceivable that the same God Who condemns sinners will not condemn “Christians” for the same sins! Those who live like the world are not abiding in Him! Personally, I’m not prepared to risk it. My love for Him compels me to follow His lifestyle, the essence of abiding in Him. Am I sin free? No! But His blood cleanses me from all unrighteousness.  I’m trusting that abiding in Him will inevitably result in my producing good “fruit”. Sure, He gets all the credit! But as Paul wrote to the Romans in the Message translation; 1 So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? 2 I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Romans 6:1-2 MSG There will come a day when God judges everyone. I’d hate to flirt with sin and be included among the disobedient. My way may be more difficult but it is the “safer” approach. Abiding in Him assures me of His eternal reward. Continuing to live like a sinner is likely to lead to destruction. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 1 John 2:28 ESV 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5-8 NLT 6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to Himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News 7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ. 8 Let God's curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. Galatians 1:6-8 NLT 4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace. Galatians 5:4  NLT 7 You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? Galatians 5: 7 NLT 4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. 5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:4-7 NLT 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV	We used to sing it often, in the church to which we went. But no one ever told us just what “abiding” meant. “Abiding in the Vine”; these were the words we used to sing. Reflecting back upon them now, they didn’t mean a thing. They brought a “gooey” feeling as we sang in one accord. Enthusiastic praises to our Everlasting Lord. Webster’s Dictionary says it is a transitive verb. Assuming that you understand such highfaluting blurb! It talks about the syntax and means that we must wait. But if SARS puts a tax on sin, we’d all be in a state. Another definition means, to bear things patiently. Not a favourite pastime I can state assuredly. Another way to put it is, “endure and never yield”. A sort of fun expression on the rugby playing field. I hope you understand it. It’s clear as mud to me. And really doesn’t help me with my daily poetry. So much for dictionaries. That didn’t help a bit. I think the Lord meant, “be prepared” and “never ever quit!” He’s told us He is coming back, but none of us know when! What will we be doing and what will happen then? Will we be ashamed of all the things which we have done? Will we wish we didn’t have to meet with God’s own Son? Not if we use wisdom. He’ll generously give, All the wisdom needed for each of us to live. But a bigger danger, is we may fall away, Following a “gospel” which is not the truth today! There are many teachers who pervert the Word of God. None of them will pass beneath the Master’s measuring rod. Just like the Galatians they’ve fallen from God’s grace! I for one don’t envy all the problems they will face. Sadly, they had started to “run the race” so well. Why they were deflected? I’m sorry, I can’t tell. There is a solution. Abiding in the vine. Tapping into Jesus will keep us doing fine. Never ever leave Him; without Him we are lost. Furthermore, to leave Him, is much too great a cost. Think about His promise. If we will but remain, Abiding in the Master; then when He comes again, We will be rewarded. But more importantly, We will be with Jesus throughout eternity. God has many promises. In Christ they are AMEN! It’s only just a question of when He comes back again! Jim Strickland   Written 31st May 2012