4-21-20 THOUGHTS

The idea of my  “ABIDING in God through Christ Jesus” has been heavily on my mind in recent days.  I desire a closer walk with God. I think it’s the time in my life when I should be an ADULT in my relationship with God through Christ Jesus!  Pray for me...I’ll pray for you!
So a few verses to help us.

1John 1:1-4    From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in— we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. 2  The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. 3  We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. 4  Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!
  [I wanted you to see the words of the Message Bible here, without losing the word ABIDE!]
John 15:1-11    "I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. 2  He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. 3  You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. 4  "Live in me. Make your home in me [Abide in Me]  just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine [Abide] , you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.[Abide] 5  "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me [Abide] and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. 6  Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. 7  But if you make yourselves at home [Abide] with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. [the context is spiritual here... Jesus is bracing his future apostles for his death and return to the Father] 8  This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. 9   "I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home [Abide]  in my love. 10  If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home [Abide] in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love. 11  "I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.

Church, it’s “A time for MATURING”.  A time for learning to be at home in HIS LOVE.
Verse 7 again...     But if you make yourselves at home [Abide] with me and my words are at home in you,         We aimed at a “STATE OF BEING” that comes from God’s WORD in us!
         Rom 10:17   So faith [comes] from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

My Prayer:
Lord lead us to Yourself.  Help us to desire your word as necessary food. Give us the joy of your salvation that comes from your God breathed words. Help us to pour out our hearts to you in prayer.  Make us real adults in our relationship to you.  Thank you oh God for loving us first...for loving us so awesomely!             In the name of our Savior Jesus                  Amen