Tag: remain

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, prayer, Quiet Time

Continuing On In Focus, Faith, and Prayer

Posted on by MaryEllen

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14

Using the analogy of a runner, Paul teaches us to press on … to continue on by keeping our focus on the goal, which he identifies as “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” He encourages his readers to “forget the past” and keep moving forward by focusing on what we can do today and in the days ahead to live for Christ until we meet with Him ~ whether through death or His return.1

He wrote a similar message to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:14) – telling him to remain faithful, despite the evil that was around him, to continue on in the things he knew to be true, the things of faith which he had learned and been assured of and professed to others.

To the Colossians, he wrote that they were to continue in prayer, to be devoted to it. He wanted those he was writing to understand that prayer was an essential part of their faith and should be a constant in their lives, not just something scheduled for certain times or places. As one commentary explains, “It is meant to be an ongoing dialogue with the Lord.” Paul reiterates this in his letter to the Thessalonians when he tells them to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Paul mentions two important aspects of prayer. First, believers are to be “watchful” in prayer. This carries the idea of standing guard, or staying awake at night to make sure a location is safe. Prayer demands ongoing attention, just like the guard at a city gate. In practical terms, this means prayer is not supposed to be a careless, casual, or frivolous act. We should pray with specific purpose and with deliberate intent. Bibleref.com

John also writes to believers about continuing on in their faith… specifically to keep (continue, remain…) abiding in His love (John 15:9-11) and to abide (continue, remain…) in Him (John 15:4-7). Only when we choose to remain (continue on) in Him will we know the fullness of His joy and bear spiritual fruit for His glory.

Friends, continuing on isn’t always easy. It wasn’t in the days of Paul and John, and it isn’t in the days and times we live in now. Yet it is the calling of Jesus on our lives and the example He (and His disciples) set before us – even to the cross that Christ hung on and the unimaginable deaths that many of His followers faced. – May our God of grace and mercy help us to press on to the “mark of His high calling in Christ Jesus”. May we remember that He has given us everything that we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4) and that through Him nothing is impossible.

Reflection and Application
  • What is the key to pressing (or continuing) on in our faith, even in this sin-infested world?
  • What is the key to remaining in Christ?
  • How can we encourage others to continue on in the faith?
  • What is the prize we press on for?

The More We Know

Know These Truths
  1. adapted in part from Bibleref.com ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time

Calvary Covered It All

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based on the LGG Study: Come, Lord Jesus, Come, w5d2 / art work by LGG

Scripture: Our Roadmap for the Journey – 1 John 2:28-3:3 / SOAP 2:28

 And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.

1 John 2:28. NET
Observations and Applications from the Journey

For those of us with a less than perfect past – after receiving Christ – standing before Him with confidence and not shrinking back in shame when He returns, may seem a bit daunting or even impossible. However, reading the fuller passage, specifically verses 28-29 and 3:3 – I found hope in John’s words. Specifically, John’s encouragement that those who live more and more like Christ in this world can look for the return of Christ with HOPE rather than shame and fear of the future judgment.

When we are walking close to Christ, life will be different. We will live different from the world, we will look and sound more like Christ than the world. Acts of kindness, gentleness, and patience will simply be part of who we are. Peace will overcome fears, Joy will overcome sorrows, love will overcome hate, and we will look forward with great anticipation to Jesus’ return.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus..

Romans 8:1. NET

Living like Christ, walking in a close relationship with Him and the Father, builds our confidence that we truly belong to Him and that both our salvation and relationship are solid – meaning we have nothing to be ashamed of, because as Paul said, there is no condemnation for those who “are in Christ Jesus.”

This promised security doesn’t mean we are to sit back and chill while we wait. We are to be living out our faith by practicing righteousness, for then we will be light and salt to the world around us. Some will hate us for it but others will be drawn to the light and hopefully come to know the Savior like we do.

 So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away—look, what is new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17. NET
Prayer: A Response to our Journey

Father, may we heed John’s word and remain in Christ, practicing righteousness and living and loving others as Christ loves us. May we not waiver in our FAITH that Jesus, covered all of our sin and shame at calvary, When we are walking close to Christ, life will be different. Help us to faithfully live different from the world, to look and sound more like Christ than the world. When the world sees us may they see peace overcoming fears, joy overcoming sorrows, love overcoming hate, and may they see us looking forward to Jesus’ return with unwavering faith and hope. – In the Jesus’ name I pray – amen and amen.

The More We Know: Side Trails of the Journey

It should be noted that remaining, or “abiding in Christ as taught in 1 John 2:5–6, is synonymous with “knowing” Christ (verses 2 and 3). Later in the same chapter, John equates “remaining” in the Father and the Son with having the promise of eternal life (verses 24 and 25). Biblically, “abiding in,” “remaining in,” and “knowing” Christ are references to the same thing: salvation.” Quotes from Gotquestions.org1

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Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, LGG Study

Pray to Abide in Christ (1.0)

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The Importance of Prayer, A Love God Greatly Study – w2d5
Read: John 15:1-8; SOAP: John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remain in me—and I in him—bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.

John 15:5

I believe it is important to grasp the whole vine and gardener analogy to truly appreciate and rightly apply the message of verse 5.

In verses 1-4

  • Jesus likens Himself to a vine and God to a gardener,
  • He says we are the branches.
  • Some branches will be “taken away” and some “will be pruned”.
    • It is vital that we stay focused on the analogy of the vine, branches, and gardener and remember that in a real life gardening scenario some branches are already dead because they were never truly attached and viable, so they are thrown out. This is in no way teaching that believers will be cut away from Jesus.
  • The disciples would have understood the statement, “You are already clean” as a message from Christ that they were among those with a true saving faith. (see John 13:1-11)
  • Jesus teaches in verse 4 that if they remain or stay in Him/connect to Him then – in turn – He remains in them and they will produce spiritual fruit.

In verse 5, Jesus expands on what He’s already stated about Him being the vine and now makes it clear that we are the branches. Of course, this is just an analogy. Jesus isn’t truly a vine nor are we branches but it is a good illustration of how Jesus is the source of life for all who believe in HIm. Much like us working in our gardens, throwing away all the things that are dead and pruning our growing and viable plants and then enjoying the beautiful new blooms/growth in the weeks and months to come – Jesus teaches, when the branches are pruned – they will bear more “fruit”, bearing evidence of God’s work in our lives. He also teaches, the one who remains (abides … stays) in Him bears much fruit. You see, our faith involves active participation and this produces much fruit. However, the ones who just hang close to the vine but do not actively participate or take nourishment from the vine (remember they were never truly connected to the vine) will be cut off and thrown into the fire. In the analogy. as the gardener, God knows which are which and tends to us (the branches) accordingly. Finally, don’t miss that it is a joint participation – requiring not only us abiding in Him but Him abiding in us – for apart from Him we can accomplish nothing.

Father – through Faith – I am attached to Jesus, and He abides in me. help me to produce fruit to Your glory.