(Illustration by Chuck Easterling)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4).
Since the life of permanent and perfect abiding in Jesus ordinarily comes by degrees, or step by step, what are those steps?
Step One: Salvation
A person must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“The life of Christianity consists of possessive pronouns,” says Martin Luther. “It is one thing to say, ‘Christ is a Saviour’; it is quite another thing to say, ‘He is my Saviour and my Lord.’ The devil can say the first; the true Christian alone can say the second.”
Step Two: Confession
All known sin must be confessed with the confidence that it will be forgiven. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Ps. 66:18). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Prussian king Frederick the Great (1712–1786) was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their knees before him to proclaim their innocence—except for one man, who remained silent. Frederick called to him, “Why are you here?” “Armed robbery, Your Majesty,” was the reply. “And are you guilty?” “Yes, indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment.” Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, “Release this guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it.”
When a person is honest with God, there is great mercy.
“Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul,
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”~James Nicholson
Step Three: Full Consecration
A person must want to be holy, just, and good. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:1–2).
At a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankee second baseman, offered a prayer that is a classic in brevity and poignancy: “Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen.”
Step Four: Scripture Memorization
The Word of God must be hid in the heart in order not to sin. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps. 119:11).
Step Five: Consciously Spend Time with Jesus
In order to be like Jesus, time must be spent with Him. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
“It is shameful to abandon this divine communion to occupy our minds with trivial matters. We should feed and nourish our souls with high thoughts of God, which yield us great joy in devotion to Him.” ~ Hannah Whitall Smith
Step Six: Learning the Laws of Abiding in Christ and applying them.
There is the Law of Portion. The Day’s Portion in its Day is the Law which guides God’s dealings with His people.
There is the Law of Living Moment by Moment in the Lord.
“Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow’r.The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
‘As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,’
This the pledge to me He made.”~Lina Sandell
There is the Law of Giving and Taking. The Law of Giving and Taking states that the giving out continually increases the power of taking in. We give our faith to Jesus, and we take in His life, His strength, and His peace.
Step Seven: Pray
“The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.” ~C.S. Lewis
Pray the prayer of faith.
“Father, know I am in Christ; I now abide in Him.”
When we pray, remember:
The love of God that wants the best for us.
The wisdom of God that knows what is best for us.
The power of God that can accomplish it.~William Barclay
