All for Love - Part XI

I am reminded of the young fish who said to the old fish, “I want to someday see that great ocean.” The old fish looked with the amazement and stated, “you are right now in the great ocean!“ You see, the young fish could not recognize it, for he had a preconceived notion of what it would be like. He would continue to look for that wonderful place, not knowing that all along he dwelt in it! Abiding in Christ is often viewed by many in the same way; they are waiting to see and feel it before they will believe it, while all along they have been in that relationship and most blessed existence.

The “how-to” of abiding begins not with a work, but with an attitude to be maintained. We live in an attitude of abiding, deeply aware that Jesus is our life. First, we are to be constantly mindful of our true condition were we to be outside of the vine. Coming to know one’s self and accept the fact that in one’s body dwells no good thing is not easy, and often is accompanied by much suffering. Philippians 2:5-7. The first step, then, is to know ourselves and carry the attitude of absolute dependence that comes from this knowledge throughout the day. Second, each of us must take his place as one who believes. Believing is resting, receiving, and being patient in the wait prior to obtaining. Faith is waiting on God to provide in quiet confidence. Faith is enjoyable waiting and easy resting. We rest in our position with Christ, trusting the responsibility of the Vine and never trying to do its job! Our second attitude, then, has to do with faith. We have courage for we have learned that it is God and keeps us. Third, we are aware that the abiding life is not a feeling, but an awareness. One of the great secrets of the Christian life is that when one is filled with the Spirit he generally feels nothing, since it is the natural and normal way of life! Abiding is knowing that he is keeping us even when we cannot keep ourselves. Fourth, we take our place as the creatures and give up our tendency and desire to play the role of the Creator. Fifth, we resolve to live only one moment at a time. There is nothing that we can do to provide for tomorrow-this moment is all that we have! We creatures are too easily overwhelmed by any more than one day. Matthew 6:34. Life is only to be lived one moment at a time, being faithful in each moment to experience his life. Ask only for the grace that you need today as you speak to the rebellious child, when you must work at a job you do not like, today as you desire to make your marriage a blessing, as you attempt to share Jesus with a lost one, as you wish to live in an abiding relationship with our Lord. These are the 5 attitudes needed to experience the abiding life. Once we possess these, we will know that abiding does not depend on our strength, growth, feelings, failures, or success, but on his ability to place us in the vine and keep us there.

This day, Lord, I thank you that I am in you and you are in me. Thank you that no matter how I feel, I abide in you. Thank you, Lord, that it is not a position I am struggling to maintain, for you have put me there. This moment is all I will be concerned for. I accept my position of abiding with joy.

The only way out of failure is faith. We do not wallow in self-pity and guilt, but we allow failure to bring us to a place of true dependence, which will bring maximum productivity as Christ lives his life through us. Regrets are for unbelievers, not for those who walk in Christ’s righteousness.

The repentant man, no matter how far he has fallen, can count on God’s hearing him and being overcome by his own compassion! Hosea 11:8-9!

I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Jonah 4:2

For the Lord will not reject forever, for if he causes grief, then he will have compassion according to his abundant love and kindness. Lamentations 3:31-32

What is your excuse for wallowing? To what end or benefit do you continue to punish yourself because of unbelief after you have sinned? God is compassionate, whether you believe it or not. Have you learned to lean on the compassion of God, or do your lying emotions tell you God does not hear and show compassion?

We cannot continue to believe that God wants to hear us say we will improve before he restores us to his presence; he actually wants us to come to him in weakness and humility, not in the fiend strength of what we think we can accomplish.
1 Peter 4:8, James 2:13, James 5:20. When we walk in God's compassion, we are free to fail, and His love covers a multitude of our sins, and His mercy delivers us from judgment.

Often I have commented to struggling Christians that we will know if we have truly hit on the answer to their defeat by how hard the enemy will work in the coming weeks to take them out of the abiding life. The person moving in a falsehood that will not bring deliverance will be greatly encouraged by Satan along the way. Those who are on the path of do’s or seeking God’s acceptance by performance, will likewise be urged along, while those on the path of believing will find many obstacles. When it comes to the enemy it is God’s will to stand against him in the victory that is ours in Christ. Satan’s tactic is to either have us disregard him, treating him as though he does not exist, or to fall short of the will of God, or be consumed with fighting against him or going beyond the will of God. 1 Peter 5:8, Ephesians 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:26, 1 Corinthians 10:12.

We are ensured protection by the Lord, not because of the life we live, but the life he lived. John 17:11, 15. Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

What the enemy uses to harass the believer are particular manifestations of the flesh; these, as we have already mentioned, are removed by taking up the cross daily, which will cut the ground out from under the enemy and free us from his influence.

Victory belongs not to those who try to generate power over the enemy, but to those who receive Christ’s power. Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 5:18, Romans 12:1; 8:14; 6:6; 13, 8:23, first Peter 1:5, 2 Timothy 4:18, Colossians 1:13, 29, 1 Corinthians 3:6; 6:11, 19, 20, 7:34; 10:20, 21, Galatians 6:8, Acts 26:18

Many are working to have oneness with the Lord or oneness in their marriages, when in fact oneness is something that is given, not worked for. Experience must come out of faith, which is the conviction of things not yet seen.

“If I can do something great for the Lord, then he will be pleased, and I will gain his favor and acceptance.“ Such a thought has its roots in hell, for it denies the Christian’s standing before the Father by faith in Christ’s work, not his own. No where are we commended for doing the great thing; rather, the emphasis is on faithfullness in the smallest of things: For the child, in such as obedience; for the wife, simple respect for her husband; and for the husband, loving his wife. Successful Christianity involves forgiving, loving the unlovable, giving instead of storing up treasures on earth, and abiding in him.

Many continue to respond to the negative statements of their mates. And so doing, the believer will more often than not be fighting a person rather than the enemy who inspires the false thoughts that are emanating from that person.

In the midst of spiritual battle, take time with God; allow the realization of your being seated with him in the heavenlies; let him show you where the proper battle lines are, so that knowing the position of the enemy you will no longer be wasting your energies.