Abiding In Him

I am finding myself awakened to a rather shameful reality in regard to my repeated failings and perpetual coming short of the life of holiness that God intends for me. This glaring deficiency actually has two roots that as I pray and ponder, seem to emerge. The first is that I have committed painfully little to the discipline of “abiding in Christ.” I re-read the early verses of John 15 this morning and once again realized that my only hope of doing anything that even resembles bearing fruit is in my learning to abide in Jesus. This requires daily worship, prayer, meditation on His Word and presenting my body to Him as a living sacrifice and allowing my mind to be renewed by His Word. This discipline is faint at best.

The second root of my spiritual impotency appeared even more disgusting and sinful to me this morning. Simply stated it is an ugly selfishness. The times that I do make attempts to discipline myself in the practice of “abiding in Christ” are usually motivated by a desire to preach or teach better, navigate special challenges or ease some guilt for a recent failing. Jesus said in John 15:8 that “my Father is glorified by this” (that is by my abiding in Him). The reason I should commit to abiding in Him is not so that I will be more effective or do better in my calling or even that I can have liberty from guilt. I should abide in Him so that my Father can be glorified.

I was created for His glory and honor and only when His glory not my success is my aim, can I expect to abide in Him genuinely and bring forth fruit that will remain, namely His honor. Jesus was willing to die, though the thought troubled him deeply, so that the Father might be glorified (John 12). Who am I that I should want anything other than Him to be seen and honored? It is amazing love, lavished on me, that I should even have the privilege of being called His child. He is not ashamed of me and I must live my life to honor Him and glorify Him.

If his glory and honor are my motivation for abiding in Him, rather than my success and blessed future, then His perfection can be demonstrated in my weakness and repeated failures might possibly be avoided.

I must confess my sinful selfishness and lay before Him my wilting weakness. Then He may perfect His strength in me so that through my abiding, the Father may be glorified

Praise You

Lord, I come to You today with a simple prayer to pray.
In everything I do, Let my life, Oh Lord, praise You.

Praise You, praise You; Let my life praise You. Praise You.

Lord, You formed me out of clay. And for Your glory I was made.
Use this vessel as You choose. Let my life, Oh Lord, praise You.