In order to be fruitful, we need to abide in Christ. That means that we need to learn to depend on Him alone. It also means that we need to follow the Lord's lead by remaining in(or abiding in, or dwelling in, or depending on)His love. Those who abide in Christ will naturally resemble Him, walking according to His will and loving those around them as Jesus did. In this way we who abide in and depend on Jesus will bring Him joy and have that same joy.
abide - be enveloped in His Word -daily taking in, daily checking (dear God, was what I said - did - according to your will? and, yes, abiding is knowing that He is with me and that FACT brings JOY
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16
The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” (Acts 10:45-47)
We are able to abide in Christ because the Holy Spirit abides in us. That Spirit is the seal which marks us belonging to Christ, in whom we abide ("In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise." Eph. 1:13). As we seek to, as Bev pointed out, taking in God's Word and "checking in" with God in order to dwell with Him more completely, the natural result is the joy promised to us in John 15, a joy that is full (complete, whole) and which fills us to overflowing.
"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8)
This is why we wish to bear fruit: because it brings the Father glory. That is one of our "chief ends," and as such it should flavor all that we do, say and think. If we wish to glorify the Father who loves us, we must bear much fruit, for in doing so His Kingdom is built and those who belong to Him are gathered into His arms.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." (John 15:9-10)
Jesus loves us just as HIs Father loves Him, without condition, without limit. There is nothing we can do to make Jesus love us more. There is nothing we can do to make Jesus love us less. His love is gracious, undeserved and unearned. And yet He loves us, and calls us as His disciples to remain in (dwell in, continue in, depend on) that love the same way the Son did: through obedience. The mark of our love is obedience, because if we love Him we will keep His commands (John 14:15).
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11)
Jesus does not call us to obedience to make our lives difficult or to take away all of our "fun." He calls us to obedience because our obedience brings Him joy and, on top of that, makes our joy complete. You may not think of obedience as something that produces joy, but it does. We continue basking in God's love by walking according to His will. When we disobey God doesn't stop loving us, but that disobedience does make it more difficult for us to maintain our relationship with the Father and make it impossible to know the full measure of His joy as we turn away from Him and toward sin. If we want to know the joy of dwelling in the Father's love, we will gratefully obey His commands and our joy will be made full.
In order to be fruitful, we need to abide in Christ. That means that we need to learn to depend on Him alone. It also means that we need to follow the Lord's lead by remaining in(or abiding in, or dwelling in, or depending on)His love. Those who abide in Christ will naturally resemble Him, walking according to His will and loving those around them as Jesus did. In this way we who abide in and depend on Jesus will bring Him joy and have that same joy.
ReplyDeleteabide - be enveloped in His Word -daily taking in, daily checking (dear God, was what I said - did - according to your will? and, yes, abiding is knowing that He is with me and that FACT brings JOY
ReplyDelete"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16
DeleteThe circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
ReplyDeleteThen Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” (Acts 10:45-47)
We are able to abide in Christ because the Holy Spirit abides in us. That Spirit is the seal which marks us belonging to Christ, in whom we abide ("In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise." Eph. 1:13). As we seek to, as Bev pointed out, taking in God's Word and "checking in" with God in order to dwell with Him more completely, the natural result is the joy promised to us in John 15, a joy that is full (complete, whole) and which fills us to overflowing.
"This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8)
ReplyDeleteThis is why we wish to bear fruit: because it brings the Father glory. That is one of our "chief ends," and as such it should flavor all that we do, say and think. If we wish to glorify the Father who loves us, we must bear much fruit, for in doing so His Kingdom is built and those who belong to Him are gathered into His arms.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." (John 15:9-10)
ReplyDeleteJesus loves us just as HIs Father loves Him, without condition, without limit. There is nothing we can do to make Jesus love us more. There is nothing we can do to make Jesus love us less. His love is gracious, undeserved and unearned. And yet He loves us, and calls us as His disciples to remain in (dwell in, continue in, depend on) that love the same way the Son did: through obedience. The mark of our love is obedience, because if we love Him we will keep His commands (John 14:15).
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:11)
ReplyDeleteJesus does not call us to obedience to make our lives difficult or to take away all of our "fun." He calls us to obedience because our obedience brings Him joy and, on top of that, makes our joy complete. You may not think of obedience as something that produces joy, but it does. We continue basking in God's love by walking according to His will. When we disobey God doesn't stop loving us, but that disobedience does make it more difficult for us to maintain our relationship with the Father and make it impossible to know the full measure of His joy as we turn away from Him and toward sin. If we want to know the joy of dwelling in the Father's love, we will gratefully obey His commands and our joy will be made full.
Good Sabbath, overcomers (1 John 5:5). May God bless you as you gather for worship today. See you in church!
ReplyDelete