Abiding and Obeying
READ
CONSIDER
When we remain in Jesus, as he remains in the Father, obeying his commands and being in his love, we will be filled to overflowing with the joy of Jesus. As a matter of fact, Jesus tells his disciples about abiding (remaining) in Jesus so that they will be filled with his joy.
Sticking with Jesus produces joy. (Golly, “sticking” and “produce” in a passage about vines, branches, and fruit...what a punny devotion today. Sorry. Couldn’t resist.) In all seriousness, abiding in Jesus is good for us.
Jesus isn’t telling us to abide in him because he means to build an army of religious rule-followers. He wants us to experience the same joy he has by abiding in the Father. Really, Jesus wants us to live like he lives. He wants us to experience what he gets to experience. Abiding and obeying is the way to see that happen.
REFLECT
Were you raised in a legalistic environment? There’s not a lot of joy to be found in following the rules because they’re the rules. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not promoting anarchy. Rules exist for good reason. It’s just that following Jesus was never meant to be about the rules. More often than not, when we make it about that, we suck the joy right out of the Jesus life.
Jesus, as God in the flesh, would have honored heart behind the Law without fault, and in doing so, he would have honored God perfectly. However, he did not follow every man-made religious rule. Instead, he pointed to the heart of God, modeled the perfect way to glorify God with his life, and taught us how to do the same...so that his joyful abiding could be our joyful abiding, too!
PRAY
Lord, Jesus, teach me to abide to such a faithful extent that I get to experience the same joy you have with the Father. Amen