One of the greatest promises of Scripture is found in Jesus’ exhortation that we abide (remain) in Him in John 15. This passage means that God wants to be an intimate part of our lives. He desires close, personal fellowship with us, His created and redeemed people.
I can think of nothing greater than knowing our Lord desires to know, bless, and encourage us. Of course, He has already died to redeem us. We are truly a blessed people.
What does this passage of Scripture mean?
First, it describes God’s constant care. He is the loving vinedresser (gardener) who moves among the vines giving loving care to the branches of the vine. Of course, all of this is a picture, but it is a beautiful picture of a God who cares deeply and provides all we need.
Second, it shows that God allows us to associate with Him in His divine work. God redeemed us to make us fruitful. As we abide in Him and He abides in us, we will produce much fruit. This is the kind of fruit that lasts.
Third, God provides all we need to be successful in producing fruit. If we abide in Christ and Christ in us, He will provide all we ask. Two times in the passage Jesus assured us He would grant us our petitions (John 15:7, 16).
This, of course, is a difficult concept. It means that if we are loyal to Christ, seeking His guidance and His will, we will seek those things which are above and which He loves to provide.
Fourth, we must be people who abide. To abide in Christ is a tremendous privilege. We are allowed to be in Christ and He in us. It means we seek every opportunity for fellowship and obedience. We seek to truly know Him and His desires for our lives.
Finally, it means we are not alone. We have one who is constantly with us and desires to bless our lives. In turn, we desire to know and follow Him.
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One Response
Perhaps it is just me who thinks this way. When I hear the word ‘loyalty,’ I think of a union or a tribal relationship that is dependent on flesh actions for flesh results. Webster defines loyalty as: “the quality, state, or instance of being loyal; faithful adherence, etc.” And, ‘loyal’ as: “faithful to those persons, ideals, etc. that one stands under an obligation to defend or support.”
Good and noble behavior that describes a decision one makes. Now consider, “Be ye transformed…,” metamorphose: to change in form; transform. Sounds more like being a “New Creature in Christ,” having ones characteristics change. That is not something that can be acquired by manipulation or loyalty on the outside only.
What a wonderful job you did in describing the qualities of what abiding in Christ means. As you touched on the picture of the many members with the essence of life flowing through all making everyone members, one of another. It is not what one puts on. Rather it is what comes out as a result of what is already inside.
In fire fighting, the crew has to work together for the benefit of saving lives and not loose a member of the crew in the process of fulfilling their purpose. The way they think is transformed to fulfill their purpose: to save lives, and to keep their own life as safe a possible in the process. In Jefferson Parish there is a fire training center with a tower that is built to train firemen about what happens a fire is fed oxygen. The poem I wrote is one of the first times the institution of fire fighting in Jefferson Parish became aware of what happens when the seemingly good idea of breaking a window to get at the fire you can ‘see,’ can give life to the (heat & fuel provided with oxygen) fire that can’t be seen. My father was blessed to have survived at all. To have only his hair burned off and second degree burns was something of a miracle. (You can read the poem ‘Castigate’ in earlier contributions.)
Another aspect concerning air and rescue occurred at a canal in Jefferson Parish. A car was in an accident and ended up in the canal. Only the rear window area was exposed. When Fred Matthew arrived one of the firemen had retrieved a long pole from his truck and was intending to break the rear window to get to the woman and two children trapped. Fred Matthew said to wait showing his identification as he took off his glasses and handed a fireman his wallet. He went into the dirty canal water and muck and found the front door. (In those days electric windows were not popular.) He managed to get the door open enough to roll the front window down. When he got into the vehicle he told the mother to take off her bra. When she began to protest, he said there wasn’t enough air to argue. She took off her bra and he tore it in half and talked sweetly to her crying children. I’m going to put this over your face to keep the nasty stuff away from your mouth and eyes. Now when I say ‘ready,’ take a deep breath and hold it, okay? With all looking intently at him he took the smallest child through the window and came back as quickly as he could for the next and then for the mother who was sobbing, hysteria mixed with joy, her children had been saved. He said, I need you to be still and help me or we will both drown, as he took off his undershirt and wrung it out in their small space and placed it over her face. Just a short time later with a fireman covering the lady and others caring for the children, Fred, exhausted an spitting, said, “Now take your pole and break the window.” As soon as the rear window was breached the car filled completely with water; as the vehicle sank down into the muck.
Don’t remember any awards or recognition about this. He didn’t look for any. He was just glad his Lord put him there to be of help and was able to get home to his two small children.
Ecclesiae, community, Body, Bride, church, Church. Interesting.
Blessings