ABIDE WITH ME!

YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK!

October 21, 2021

HOW TO MEDITATE ON GOD’s WORD

October 24, 2021

22nd OCTOBER 2021

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing – John 15:5

My spirit drifts this morning to a popular Christian song titled “Abide with Me”. It’s an old hymn said to have been composed by one Scottish Anglican Minister, Henry Francis Lyte.in 1825? Some of the popular stanzas of the hymn are reproduced below:

“Abide With Me”

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, o Lord, abide with me
Abide with me, abide with me

I am particularly fascinated by the 3^rd stanza, which seems to place total submission on God, even when all hopes are lost. Jesus is the one who restores all hopes and gives life when all we have are fading away. Jesus says, “I am the true vine, abide with me”. When we abide with Jesus, He gives a brand-new life, even when we are adjudged clinically dead or all hope is lost. Jesus is life, and He is the resurrection!

All human beings, indeed the whole world, is sustained by God. God gives life to all things. Without God, nothing will live; His eternal word holds everything together. It happens that once in a while, we lose that sense of oneness with God, and by that, we become helpless in the face of adversity.

Aside from giving us life, God is the only one who can solve our problems without creating another problem for us. Why do we need to abide in God; simply because God is supreme and His sovereignty rules over the world? Power and might are with God, and He is the only one who can do all things without taking responsibility for anything!

In today’s scripture, Jesus makes known the plan of God to make each of us permanently fruitful in life, but we must accept to remain as branches of the living vine. How do you become a branch of the vine which Jesus represents?

Remember how a tree grows and develops branches; both the tree and the branches grow together simultaneously. The branches are never separated from the tree; they thrive on it, draw nutrients from it and are always fruitful for as long as the tree remains alive.

That brings us to the usual question of whether you have a good relationship with Jesus. Interestingly, some have a relationship with Christ, but not a good relationship. Also, some have never encountered Him, and therefore, cannot develop any relationship with Him. Your good relationship with Christ must involve union with Him and constant communion with Him. A good relationship with Jesus is necessary because He leads us to God. Therefore, in Christ Jesus, we have Access to a life-giving, soul-thrilling, joy-producing communion with God (1 John 1:3; John 15:11). It is this union and communion with God that makes us become fruitful and relevant in life.

To abide in Christ is not a one-off affair; it’s a daily lifestyle by the power of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to do the following three things:

First, you must walk by faith. Scriptures tell us that the righteous walk by faith. Your righteousness before God is justified by faith. For this reason, only by faith shall you be able to please God.

Second, spend and focus your quality time on God. Spend time to study the scriptures and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. When you truly understand the scriptures, you will learn the truth that will truly set you free from every bondage and limitation.

Third, be part of a God-fearing community and counsel one another. Fight against sin and live a constant life of imitation of Christ.

PRAYER

Father in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I declare I am fruitful and productive. Your word abides in me, and I have become one with thee. Lord, today I rebuke and silence every limitation affecting my life. I declare I am free indeed! AMEN.

FURTHER READING: John 15:7

Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi

Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi was born in Nigeria to Patrick Abuda Obeakemhe and Juliana Fatimatu Obeakemhe, both from Ogbona Town. With a master’s degree in law, she was called to the bar at the age of twenty-two, and she is currently the principle partner of the law firm Mary Lawrence-Dokpesi & Associates. She is also the founder of two philanthropic organizations: the Living Waters Mission and the Rose Croix Foundation. In addition to law, Lawrence-Dokpesi was drawn to spiritual pursuits at an early age, having begun studying philosophy, theology, chaplaincy, and spirit therapy by the age of eighteen. Inspired by her spiritual calling, she has produced ten intensively researched manuscripts on spiritual matters. Although Understanding the Spiritual was the last to be written, it is the first to be published. Lawrence-Dokpesi is a mother and a wife living in the city of Abuja, Nigeria.