Encouragement often begins with self-reflection: Am I fully aware of abiding in Jesus? Do I fully allow Jesus to be involved in all I do? A better question is, do I follow Jesus in His work that He prepared for me to do? What does it truly mean to abide? Is it possible to abide just a little and abide fully? To learn about taking advantage of our opportunities that come your way, check out “How to Take Advantage of Every Opportunity.”
“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.’” John 15:4-5
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
What I Have Now
I agree when I am abiding and living in the Spirit (I think they mean the same thing) I have little or no sin, and my problems, weaknesses and sins don’t exist. The stronger of my temptations are still recognized by me, but I choose God’s way, so far. I just don’t see the bad when God is filling me. If I am obsessed with God nothing else can get into my life. I allow no room for worry, frustration, or anger.
I have good plan that works for me: I only need to pray early in the morning, and repeat later in a day when I am spiritually weak and drifting away from Jesus. So am I finished? Is that good enough? Do I really understand what abiding is? I think I am abiding in Christ a little but not as fully as I could.
“In him we live and move and have our being as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” Acts 17:28
Look at a Child and Their Mother
Let’s say an infant, and even a young child, abides in their mother. Their mother is always watching them. Their discomfort or pain is always recognized and resolved by their mom. All their needs such as food, clothing, housing, cleanup, etc. are provided for by their mother. They don’t need to ask their mother, she just knows. Their mother manages everything in their life. A parent can teach a child about God and His Word in a way they understand.
Is it possible for a child to stop abiding in their mother? Yes, they abide less each year after being an infant. Drifting away from their mother and drifting toward friends and adults such as teachers and bosses, and eventually to romantic partners and a spouse. An adult can have a good relationship with their mother, but it is not an abiding relationship. Older teens and adults live most of their life supplying their own needs and managing their own life. A child will grow to be like their parents in many ways because their parents are their biggest influence when they are young.
What Can Be Possible?
We are told in the Bible to come to Jesus as young children. Why? Young children are much more reliant on a parent then older children.
Let’s try to describe fully abiding in Jesus, using an infant/mother relationship as a model:
• Jesus is always watching me.
• My discomfort or pain is recognized and resolved by Jesus.
• All my needs are provided to me by Jesus.
• I don’t need to ask Jesus for something; He already knows. Jesus knows, but He says when I am abiding, I can ask for anything in God’s will and it will be done. I assume an infant would ask their mother if they had the language to do that.
• Jesus manages everything in my life. He will do that if I first make a daily living sacrifice of everything to Him.
• Jesus grows me spiritually, first feeding me milk (basics of the Bible) and then later, meat (wisdom of God).
• I grow spiritually to become more like Jesus.
Examples of Fully Abiding in Jesus:
• The reason for me to abide in Jesus is so I grow spiritually, and so I obey Him in doing good works.
• Treat Him like my ever-present companion, as someone next to me. I could say I involve Him in every activity of my day. But since He is my superior and Lord, and since I gave everything to Him to control, He involves me in every part of His day in my life. It is about me following Him and doing things for Him, as a representative or agent for Him. Follow Jesus in His work that He prepared for me to do. Be always conscious of His leadership and His will. Ask Him what work I should do and ask Him to help and empower me.
• If Jesus gives me no specific directions, do things as I think He would do, and fully invite His company.
• Fully realize what giving Jesus control of everything means, and don’t wrestle control back from Him.
• We abide in Jesus when we are obedient doing His commands.
“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:22
“Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24
In conclusion, abiding in Jesus is a transformative journey that requires continuous reflection, commitment, and reliance on His presence and guidance. As we strive to align our lives with His will, we find ourselves empowered to overcome temptations, filled with His peace, and able to accomplish the good works He has prepared for us. Just as a child depends on their mother for every need, we too must depend on Jesus, allowing Him to manage our lives and shape us into His likeness. Through prayer, obedience, and a conscious effort to remain in His presence, we can move from abiding a little to abiding fully, experiencing the fullness of life that comes from being hidden with Christ in God.
