Abide

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

John 15:9 ESV

Jesus tells us to “abide in my love”.  Other versions say remain in my love or continue in my love. 

God has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He has promised that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). In Psalm 139, which I will be teaching from this Sunday, we are reminded that there’s no where we can go from God’s presence.  But abiding in Him is more than simply knowing that He is always with us.  Abiding in Him implies some sort of action on our part.

In John 15, a passage about abiding in Christ, we see the picture of Jesus being the vine, and us being branches.  This picture of abiding reminds me that Jesus is my source of life, of strength, and of joy.  I am dependent on Him for everything.  Abiding is meditating on His words (1 John 2:24).  Abiding is being obedient (1 John 3:24, John 15:10).  Abiding is loving people (1 John 4:16).  And if I abide in Him, I will be fruitful and my life will bring Him glory (John 15:5)!  Apart from Him I can do nothing, I am fully dependent upon Him, and I need His help to abide in Him.

In our newest song we ask God to “Draw me close, and teach me to abide”.  We pray that this song will help us to abide in Christ.  We pray that it will remind us that we are desperately dependent upon Him for everything.  Thank you for singing along with us on Sundays!

Here’s a link to the song for you to be worshipping at home and declaring your dependence upon Him and asking Him to help you abide in Him.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Kyle