I have been instructing a Master Life class at our local church and have been challenged by the focus on abiding in Christ.
Without Jesus Christ we can do NOthing of eternal value. Even being called a Christian is not enough. I must “abide in” Jesus. What does that mean? It means I need to be having a special time of fellowship with Him each day.
Not only that, but the time I choose with Him needs to be not the “leftover” part of the day, but the BEST part of the day. I committed myself to having a set quiet time with the Lord each day. Then, as the weeks passed, the Lord prompted me to consider the tithe. “What part of all do we give the Lord?” A tenth. “Which tenth is it?” It is the FIRST tenth.
I had chosen a time for quiet time that was convenient for me – my lunch break. Yet it is not really the BEST part of the day. So, now I am setting apart the first part of the day, before I get distracted. This is a personal choice, I am not mandating anything – just sharing my heart on this.
Now, I am seeing the need to expand my thinking further! I had this weekday mentality encroaching on my devotion time. I had a 5 day mindset. Yet the Lord is having me ask myself, “do I not need God on the weekends?” “Do I need a weekend to myself?!” How foolish I have been!
It takes time to abide. We all have time to spend with the Lord. It is a matter of what time do we choose to give to the Lord? What part of the day do we choose to give?
“For without me you can do nothing.” Without Jesus, all we do has zero spiritual significance. Make Jesus Christ the true master of you life, as you see the evil days approaching. Only Jesus can bring forth fruit in our lives. Let’s abide in Him and let Him abide in us.
Please take a moment to consider where you are at in your own personal time with the Lord. Take a moment to ask yourself, “am I giving Him my undivided attention during the day?” “Am I giving Him as my Lord, the right to manage and bless my time?” “Am I abiding in Christ?” If we do, we shall bear much fruit and shall partake of eternal life. If we, being attached to the vine, are not fruitful, heed the WARNING: we shall be gathered together and burned in the fire.
Abide in the Vine. Be fruitful!