Abide Deeply

Joy Revie

I read a reflection recently that got me thinking! It started with:

“You have been called to bring forth My light, do not squander your call. Dive in with courage and boldness, abide in me and I will lead you to places that you have never even thought or imagined.”

It is based on Jesus portrayal as The Vine and we as His Branches in John 15:

Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you are joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is dead wood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me, and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.
John 15:4-7 (MSG)

I think I understand the concept of Jesus as the main vine and we as His branches drawing strength and life from Him, but was more challenged with what is to Deeply Abide, and how I do this on a day to day basis.

Carl Medearis, in his excellent book ‘Speaking of Jesus’, suggests that we get to know the real Jesus; the actual person of Jesus, who lived and laughed, and felt life as we do. Of the 66 books of the Bible, only the 4 Gospels share with us the actual person of Jesus. Read them through and breathe them in!

As followers of Jesus, we know that He lives inside us. So let’s ask ourselves the question:
‘If Jesus were living my life right now, and He were here doing what I’m doing, would He be pleased or want to do something else?’

The ultimate dream is to have every part of us so in love with God that we find ourselves, almost as an afterthought, like Jesus!

Medearis suggests that we practice acting like Jesus by knowing the gospels inside out so we have many examples of how Jesus acted or spoke in a given situation - and by recognising that He truly dwells in us by the Holy Spirit’s power, inspiring us and giving us courage to do things beyond our wildest dreams.

So let's abide deeply in Him, by inviting Him to deeply abide in us.