Abide In Me

Today’s Encouragement is John 15:4a ESV Abide in me, and I in you.

Abide in Me –

There is a wonderful hymn with a beautiful message titled Abide with me. Yet, this hymn’s message is not entirely accurate… because – we do not need to ask Christ to abide with us.  Friend, He is Already within us! (John 17:23) 

This verse invites us and encourages us to Abide – IN – Him… it’s a subtle but significant difference.  The significance is that Jesus has already done everything we need!  We don’t ask for what we already have – unless we don’t realize or fully trust that we have it!!

Here’s an example, My precious wife loves me, I know and trust this… I never need to ask her to love me, because I know, I trust, I’m confident that – she already does!  In the same way, we can come to confidently know that Christ already abides in us; He lives here, within each of us who believe in Him!

The response to this truth is on us; it’s our responsibility!  We – are to Abide -IN Him!

Abiding in Him includes trust, confidence, rest, remaining, staying, living, and dwelling… In Him.  So, our prayer is not asking God for what He has already given us… but rather that we can respond to His gift, which is Christ in us, by abiding In Him.

Father God, we do long, in our best moments, to be closer to You.  Help us, teach us, to Abide in You.

Abide

Dwell Songs & Aaron Williams