The Word for Today

by Bob and Debby Gass

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‘…Abide in My love…’ John 15:9 NKJV
If ‘abiding’ is the key to ‘abounding’, why don’t we achieve it? Because: (1) We think abiding is based on our feelings. No, it’s about a relationship, not a sensation. That’ll probably come as a relief, especially if you think you must have an emotional rush when you spend time with God. You won’t always, and you don’t need to. We understand this in our marriages. Abiding is an act of faith. It says you value God’s presence in your life more than any immediate sensation. If you think you must always have strong feelings in order to know you’ve been with God, you’ll be disappointed and conclude, ‘This isn’t for me.’ But it is! (2) We think we can abide in Christ without obeying Him. Jesus said, ‘If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love…’ (John 15: 10 NKJV) Disobeying creates a breakdown in your fellowship with Christ. You can enjoy an emotional worship service on Sunday but, if you pursue a sinful lifestyle during the week, you’ll never succeed at abiding. One of the greatest pictures of abundant living is the picture of what the spies found in the Promised Land. In the Bible, grapes, which produce wine, represent abundance. ‘They came to the Valley of Eshcol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between two of them on a pole…’ (Numbers 13:23 NKJV) Think, it took two of them to carry just one cluster. Wow! Have you ever heard of such abundance? Keep that picture in mind. Remind yourself constantly that it belongs to those who hear and obey God’s Word!

SoulFood: Acts 10-11, Luke 7:24-35, Ps 118:19-29, Pr 15:33

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