There is a place we visit that is wonderful to behold. It is peaceful and calming. And even though we would like to spend more time there, we invariably leave it to return to our "normal" lives. Where is this place? That's today's story.
There is a state of mind, and of being too I guess, where we draw closer to God than we normally would during the course of any given day. I already described it in my opening paragraph. So, let's go to a dictionary and look up the word - abide.
Merriam-Webster yields the following:
1a - tolerate, 1b - withstand, 2 - await, 3 - accept
None of those definitions are acceptable to me, so am I wrong? Let's read something Jesus said and see if these alleged definitions are anywhere close.
"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." - John 15:4
Are we then to tolerate Jesus? No. Are we to withstand Him? No. Are we to wait for Him or accept Him? Yes, sort of, but those don't make sense in the verse we just read.
If we go back to Merriam-Webster, there is a word at the top of their 'abide' page that is more along the lines of what I am getting at. Abode. Like a house or a place of shelter.
Now we're talkin'!
When we live in Christ, or dwell in Him and He in us, doesn't the verse make more sense?
Paul told the church in Philippi, "To live is Christ." (Philippians 1:21). Now, we're getting somewhere. But Luke "nailed it" (sorry about the allusion to Christ crucified) when he wrote about Paul speaking to the Athenians in the Book of Acts...
"For in Him we live and move and have our being." - Acts 17:28
Boom!
That's my definition of the word 'abide.' To live our lives, IN Christ. To live FOR Him and THROUGH Him and IN Him. And He in us.
Just to be sure, let's look up the Greek word for abide. It's mehnó. Here's what it means in Strong's Greek ...
1. to remain
2. (in a place) to abide, to stay
3. (of expectancy) to await
4. (in a state) to continue
5. (in a task) to endure
6. (of a relationship) to exist permanently in, inseparably united (inhere, adhere)
That's more like it.
When we abide in Christ, that is where we find true peace. ABIDE in Him. Abide and stay there all day. Never leave and you will be blessed.
With that in mind, please listen to this song. I absolutely love it.
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