Tag Archives: Abiding

February 9, 2013

Strong Tower

By Along The Way

I don’t know if you have ever spent any time in the mountains but there is a refreshing scent that comes right after the storms pass through. In the summer it is one of the best times to be outside as the frogs croak louder, the birds sing in harmony and the squirrels run playfully around. It’s as if all of creation embraces these moments of freshness. I don’t know how you may feel but I crave these times of refreshing after the storms of life come through.

This week has definitely been a heavy rain season with little rest but amid the chaos one thing has been resonating. We should be thankful for the rain because as great as the refreshing is, it is the rain that forces us to our strong tower. The strong tower is that person or thing that we hide in and find comfort in when we are vulnerable. My strong tower is my Lord Jesus Christ because He has promised in Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe” so as the Psalmist declared, “For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy,    (Psalm 61:3).“  Much like the squirrels who hide away when the rain comes we are to hide in Christ when the storms of life rage on around us. Biblically, we have already been placed/raised in Christ as part of our redemption, (Ephesians 2:6) but it is our choice if we live out of that reality.

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Truthfully, I’ve done a better job at running from rather than embracing this truth but I write this post in hope that you can learn from my mistake. When the storms come in the past I used to stay and try to fight it as long as I can until it breaks me; call it pride or stupidity or a combo of both. However, the more the storms of life have come recently the more I am learning to run to and rest in Him in a fresh new way. For there is none but God who can speak a word to calm the storms of our life (Matthew 8:23-27)…and that is why Jesus is the only One called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)! Now do I have this revelation down pat? NO! It is an area I am growing in for sure and I encourage you to make it your default when the storms move in you hide yourself in Christ and let Him be your peace.

It is in His Presence, in His peace that I am truly replenished and strengthened to carry out the work He has set before me to do. In making the habit and learning to abide in the the strong tower that is Christ I then truly capture those moments of refreshing in my life. When I am refreshed I can then be refreshing to those around me. This may be a challenge but who is with me? Who will be intentional with me? Let’s do more than just think or say we will, lets say it and then follow through! Leave your thoughts/comments below and remember:

Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Encouraging, Inspiring, Kingdom, Life, Religon, Trust, Uncategorized

September 16, 2012

Abiding pt 2

By Along The Way

In the last post I shared a question that has been stirring in me: “…are you willing to pay the price to live a life that abides [in Christ]?” Before we can honestly answer that question for ourselves we must first look at what the word abide means. Forgive me but you are about to read the beginnings of how my mind works in studying something but I promise it’s not as bad as it seems…I hope.

Abide means: ”to remain, abide a) in reference to place: to sojourn, tarry, not to depart, to continue to be present, to be held, kept, continually b) in reference to time: to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure, c) in reference to state or condition: to remain as one, not to become another or different, to wait for, await one.“

Simply put it means “to remain” that right there will speak volumes in reference to Christ.  Upon accepting Christ we are placed in Him (see Ephesians 2) but to abide in Him is a choice we all must choose. Though He may never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrew 13:5) it is entirely up to us if we choose to stay and abide in Him…if we choose not too then Jesus makes it clear the result of that choice. In John 15:6 Jesus says, “ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.“

Now that we see what it means let’s tackle the first question that arises…what does this life of abiding in Christ look like? A life that abides in Christ is one that is unshakable in faith regardless of circumstances; no matter what hell is going on around them a person abiding can rest in the fact that God is still God and He is working a plan for their own good (see Romans 8:28). It believes the Word of God (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17) over the opinion of one’s culture, friends and even family. A person abiding guards their heart (see Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 15:16-20) and watches what they listen hear and take part in and let their mind settle on (see Philippians 4:8-9, 2 Corinthians 10:5). A person abiding is firm in their identity and purpose (see 1 Peter 2:9, Ephesians 2, John 17, 2 Corinthians 5:20 etc).

If you haven’t begun to connect the dots this is a small taste of how we as Christians are called to live…we were made to abide in Christ (see John 17:3). There have been far better men to write and go in depth in this subject but my goal is to bring a foundational overview to get you thinking…so now that we know what abide means and a glimpse of what it looks like come back for the next post where we will discuss the price of abiding in Christ.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Encouraging, Inspiring, Kingdom, Life, Religon, Trust

September 14, 2012

Abiding pt 1

By Along The Way

Have you ever been doing something so mundane without a specific thought in your head and then BAM out of nowhere you are reminded of someone or something from months or even years ago? Often when this happens it is the most odd and bizarre yet strangely important moment of the day. Today it happened on the way to work…I was reminded today, by the Holy Spirit, of a comment made by a pastor who was teaching in my 2nd year at DSOM. After nearly two years later, I remember a few of classes that have left an indelible mark on me and this comment came from one of those days:

“The price is not cheap, nor is it easy…but are you willing to pay the price to live a life that abides [in Christ]?”

When Jesus shared the allegory of the vine and the branches in John 15:1-8, He spoke on a myriad of levels and meaning in such grace as only He could do. Though I probably could write a book on these eight verses (and probably will someday Lord willing), I will resist and settle for a post or two on the subject. Returning to the question that prompted all of this thinking, what is the price that we have to pay to live this portion of Scripture out in our own lives?

Before we can honestly answer that question we need to find out what that means for us…a little more of what God is trying to say through it beyond the surface meaning…and how it applies to us. I encourage you to read this portion and pray about it and write down what you feel God is telling you; doing this will help you better hear His voice [John 10:25-30]. Be sure to come back for the next installment as we begin to answer these questions and more.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Encouraging, Inspiring, Kingdom, Life, Religon, Trust

May 8, 2012

Staying Put

By Along The Way

Recently, due to my crazy schedule, I took a bit of a writing hiatus. It has been a refreshing week and a half; I realized that I had posted more recently than I had originally planned and my hiatus is somewhat taken on a different form. There has been one thing God has been drilling in me during this time and I feel released to share it with you.

As Christians we get to take part in the most privileged relationship in the entire universe, as we get to have a relationship with God. As in any natural relationship it is one that is formed and developed over time spent with the other and with God it is no different. This is not always the easiest thing to do because in our American culture it is easy to be distracted or find excuses for not spending time with God. For some, they do not see the importance for lack of truly knowing Him (see 1 John); while others have not submitted their entire heart to give Jesus first place in their lives. The majority, including myself, is placed in the latter category. How can we expect to know God if we never spend time with Him in His Presence or in His Word? Spending time with God or having what many call a personal devotion time is the way we really get to know Him intimately as He desires. This is what eternal life is all about, for John 17:3 says, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.“

While, admittedly, I have not been faithful in my time with God as He has been with me, but it is an area I am working hard on establishing in my life as a core non-negotiable (something I resolve to not compromise no matter what may come down the road of life; it will remains core fundamental of who I am). The one chapter that God has been burning in me on this has been John 8 and in particular within has been verse 31b, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”  The word “abide” there is the Greek word “menō“  (Strong’s #G3306) which means, “[in reference to place] to remain, not to depart, to be held, [in reference to time] to continue to be, not to perish, to last to endure, [in reference to state or condition] to remain as one, not to become another or different.” Jesus told them “if you abide in My Word” meaning that is a place, in particular, the Secret Place (Psalm 91 & Matthew 6:6) which is the essence of personal devotion time. Abiding here also refers to time, as many times throughout the Gospel Jesus made statements of “he who endures to the end will be saved” and abide here means “to endure, not to perish.” The only way we can endure this life to the end and be saved is when we learn to abide in His Presence by abiding living and remaining in His Word.

Lastly, when we abide in His Word we will remain as one with the Lord (Ephesians 2:4-9). The key is that God has already made us one with Him but is our choice if we choose to abide and stay there. God desires that we all would be conformed or changed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29) and that is the end result of when we learn to live by abiding in His Word.

When it comes to God’s Word we can either read it or allow it to read us (Hebrews 4:12)! I have made the choice to stay put in His Word, I choose to abide…what about you?

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Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Encouraging, Inspiring, Religon, Uncategorized

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