“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4 (NKJV)
“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8 (NKJV)
To ABIDE is to accept or act in accordance with a rule. It is to comply with and to obey. It also means to follow, keep hold to, conform to and adhere…. With respect! When we abide in Christ we can endure all things. Through Him we are strong and by His grace we are equipped for everything.
So, when new trials come our way and adversity knocks on our door, we are supposed to praise God? We are to thank Him for our hardships? Yes! For these troubles were sent as lessons to build up your faith and deepen your reliance upon the Father. YOU are not supposed to enter any storm and ride it out with your own strength. You will never make it that way. Rather, you are to rely on God’s power to see you through.
You may say to yourself, “I have had more than my share of sorrows in this life. Surely this year God will provide only days of rest and comfort. I do not deserve any more trials or woes. I will NOT look for trouble nor will I seek out anything that could bring discomfort.” Did God ever say in HIS Word that our days on earth were to be full of rest…. or trouble free? Adam and Eve changed everything when they sinned in the Garden of Eden.
“To Adam He said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.”
Genesis 3:17 (NIV)
““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
Sin needs to be chiseled out of your spirits and this includes all self-centered perspectives. We are called to focus on others. Do not look upon your own discomfort but upon the comfort of others! This is not an easy task but it should be a goal for every saint.
Did our Savior deserve the cross? Did the apostles deserve martyrdom? Do innocent children deserve starvation? There is a REASON for every hardship. We may not understand His will but we must trust God with the purpose, as we ABIDE in Him. To accept His reasons through faith while complying in obedience gives Him glory.
“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8 (NKJV)
This means God will maintain you. Facing your future, though evil may harass, set snares and attack, is always worthwhile and profitable when Jesus is by your side. You need not fear the dark of night or the objects of discouragement in your path for the blood of the Lamb has defeated them. Your ascent to the high places of God awaits!
With confidence step into your future, but do not forget the lessons you learned from past trials. They were sent to equip you for the future. All adversity serves to refine us into the very image of Christ. As we reflect His love, others will draw near.
So what does the future hold for you? Many wonderful things, including the Great Commission! We are commissioned to share the light with the lost. This is a command for ALL of us, not just for those who are missionaries and evangelists. Since we have different gifts, we will share Jesus in many different ways.
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
We are all ambassadors for Christ! God loves His children and wants every one to accept Him as Lord and Savior. As we live out our lives, we will realize how time on earth is but God’s means to train us for what lies ahead in eternity. To rid ourselves of sinfulness we must yield to His transformation process.
Like earth, heaven is a community where we will interact with God and each other. Earth is but a fuzzy picture of our eternal home, yet we still get the idea. Share love, think of others, and help as we can, worship the Creator of all things, learn from the past, and move forward into the future. Run the good race and sow as many seeds as you can along the way!
MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES AND CONSIDER HOW YOU ARE SHARING THE GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS.
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NKJV)
“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.”  Isaiah 60:1-2 (NKJV)
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 (NKJV)
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)