Verse of the Day 7/6

Through the Bible - Deuteronomy 28-29. Acts 7:1-21

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered an A. W. Tozer quote, focusing on these words, "God wills that we should push on into His Presence and live our whole life there. "

 

When you think and read that again what comes to mind?  For me, pushing or pressing into His presence and living our whole life there, would be defined as abiding.  This brings me to John chapter 15 where we'll go for today's verses.

John 15:4-5 Amplified Bible (AMP) ⁴Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

 ⁵I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

 

John MacArthur writes that "the word abide means to remain or stay around.  The remaining is evidence that salvation has already taken place (1 John 2:19) and not vice versa.  The fruit or evidence of salvation is continuance in service to Him and His teaching.  The abiding believer is the only legitimate believer.  Abiding and believing actually are addressing the same issue of genuine salvation."

 

The verses and Tozer's concept show us what abiding means and looks like.  Living our whole life there will bear fruit "in season and out of season" through God's grace and the power of His Spirit in our lives.  Abiding involves living in and living for Jesus.

 

Living for Jesus

 

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

• Refrain:
  O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
  For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
  I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
  My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

John 15

English Standard Version (ESV)

John 15

I Am the True Vine

 ¹"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ 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. ⁵I 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.⁶If 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. ⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.