Abide in Christ
by Andrew Murray
That you may bear much fruit
"He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." John 15:5, 8
"He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." John 15:5, 8
"The soul need but have one care: to abide closely, fully, wholly. He [Christ] will give the fruit. He works all that is needed to make the believer a blessing."
"If Jesus Christ is really to work through us, it needs an entire consecration of ourselves to Him, daily renewed."
When we abide, we bear much fruit. Murray defines fruit as the winning of souls for Christ. He says that when we abide in Christ, we have two things: first is the "love and compassion towards sinners." We are normally selfish. Even as Christians, we must fight the urge to be selfish. We do not want to step out of our comfort zone and find the lost and dying souls. Yet, when we abide, we will develop that desire! The second is the "courage and strength for the work." We have the assurance that Christ works through us, a "feeble instrument." The excuse that it is too hard is not an excuse. We have an all-powerful God on our side, a Son who died for us, and a Spirit who lives in us. We have all that we need to do what we need to do!
Murray teaches two lessons:
1. Shine Your Light and Get to Work. Seek to influence those around you. Accept where you are. Accept who you are with. Accept the circumstances you find yourself. Live your life joyfully. Shine your light to the world around you! Even if that world is a husband, and three small children. Even if that world is the very place you never thought you'd be. Even if that world is so different than you thought it would be.
2. Abide in Christ. The more you depend on Christ, the more you see your own weakness. The more humbled and weak, the more you rely on Christ - and draw from His strength! You may not think you can do the thing before you. You cannot. Christ can. Rely on His strength. Renew daily your commitment to Him. Renew hourly if need be!
Lord, today I look to You to bear fruit. Let me shine my light into the hearts of my three little ones. Into the hearts of those around me. Amen.
"If Jesus Christ is really to work through us, it needs an entire consecration of ourselves to Him, daily renewed."
When we abide, we bear much fruit. Murray defines fruit as the winning of souls for Christ. He says that when we abide in Christ, we have two things: first is the "love and compassion towards sinners." We are normally selfish. Even as Christians, we must fight the urge to be selfish. We do not want to step out of our comfort zone and find the lost and dying souls. Yet, when we abide, we will develop that desire! The second is the "courage and strength for the work." We have the assurance that Christ works through us, a "feeble instrument." The excuse that it is too hard is not an excuse. We have an all-powerful God on our side, a Son who died for us, and a Spirit who lives in us. We have all that we need to do what we need to do!
Murray teaches two lessons:
1. Shine Your Light and Get to Work. Seek to influence those around you. Accept where you are. Accept who you are with. Accept the circumstances you find yourself. Live your life joyfully. Shine your light to the world around you! Even if that world is a husband, and three small children. Even if that world is the very place you never thought you'd be. Even if that world is so different than you thought it would be.
2. Abide in Christ. The more you depend on Christ, the more you see your own weakness. The more humbled and weak, the more you rely on Christ - and draw from His strength! You may not think you can do the thing before you. You cannot. Christ can. Rely on His strength. Renew daily your commitment to Him. Renew hourly if need be!
Lord, today I look to You to bear fruit. Let me shine my light into the hearts of my three little ones. Into the hearts of those around me. Amen.
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