Tag: abide in Jesus
Walking in Health
Scripture reading for September 25: Proverbs 4:20-27 “My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path for your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
1 John 2:5-6 “. . By this we may know that we are in Him(Jesus): whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”
Instead of prescribing medicines, the Scripture deals with the heart as the source of either health or disease. Solomon, writing down wisdom for his sons, pleaded with them to pay attention to his words and sayings. They were to listen and ponder them, keeping them in their hearts. They were to write them down and look on them, even post them on their doorposts and gates. This teaching of God’s wisdom would bring life to all who paid attention. They would be healing to their flesh as well as life in their souls. Solomon told his sons to guard or keep their hearts with vigilance because out of the heart flowed the springs of life. The spring would be kept pure through meditating on God’s Word and godly parental instructions.
A thousand years later, Jesus Christ, a descendant of Solomon known for His amazing wisdom and obedience to God’s Word, modeled for His disciples how to walk before God. They were to share Good News of eternal life and allow Jesus to use them in healing and deliverance. Jesus walked in complete holiness and obedience to His Father and finished the work God gave Him to do. One of His disciples, John, wrote to the church to help them with assurance of their salvation. His simple statement was that whoever claimed that he abided in Jesus Christ ought to walk as Jesus walked.
Prayer: Father God, I want to abide in Jesus and walk as He walked. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and boldness to walk each day by faith, putting one foot ahead of the other on the highway of holiness. Amen.
Day 5–Abiding in Jesus
Scripture reading for February 20: John 15:4-5 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned.”
Jesus instructed His team of disciples using analogies. In this passage He used the example of a grape vine. He was the trunk of that vine and supported the branches. The branches, as they remained attached to the vine, produced fruit. This was the mission and purpose of the vine, to produce fruit for the Father that would bless His kingdom. The vine was kept by a vine dresser-God the Father. (John 15:1) If branches died or were unfruitful, He would prune them off and throw them in the fire, as they were good for nothing else. Their purpose was never to be fulfilled–that of fruitfulness and blessing.
Likewise, disciples of Jesus must stay attached in daily relationship with their Master. They would abide in Him, and He in them through His teaching and the Father’s Gift of the Holy Spirit. As they remained in vital relationship, under the Father’s watchful eyes, they would produce fruit that would bring glory to God the Father. If they neglected their attachment, they would eventually be pruned away and tossed into the fire. This teaching used a plain illustration that brought ‘pruning’ to the branches!
As first responders, we can also learn from this example. Each department and leader has communicated standards of behavior and attendance required for doing the job effectively. We must ‘abide’ by these stated standards and willingly submit to them and seek to live by them. Some examples include wearing seatbelts when in vehicles, using prescribed safety vests and procedures when working incidents or accidents. When responding to a fire, our goal is to save human lives if possible as well as protecting our own ability to help. We submit to the incident commander and follow his instructions.
Prayer: Father, thank You for providing our source of fruitfulness in Jesus Christ. Help me abide in Him and produce much fruit! Amen.
Thankful for our “Joshua”!
Scripture reading for February 28th: Deuteronomy 34, Joshua 1-4
Key Scriptures: Joshua 1:8-9 “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. The you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you: Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
As Joshua took over leadership at the passing of Moses, God spoke to him about his leadership. It was really a call to follow God through meditating and speaking forth God’s word! This would require great courage and strength but the rewards would be prosperity and success! God would be with Him all the way!
Thankful for Jesus: Jesus Christ, our “Joshua”, calls us to abide in Him and allow His Word to abide in us and we will be fruitful! “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be give you. This is to My Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” (John 15:7-8)