Abied in Christ (Rev. 3:20)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 04/07/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Abide in Christ

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 3:20

 

            Message of the verse:  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”  (NAS95)  “Behold, I stand at the door and call; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me.”  (JB2000)

            In John 15, as Jesus was about to die for the sins of the world He still had time to talk to His disciples, to teach them some very important things that they would need to know in order to be successful for the cause of Christ.  Jesus taught the need for His children to abide in Him, so that they could draw their power from Him in order to do the things on this earth that He wanted them to do and be successful at.  As believers in Jesus Christ we are to draw power from Christ in the same way that a vine draws power from it roots in order to produce the fruit that it is suppose to produce.  These people at Laodicea were using their own resources to do things, and this is why Jesus Christ is pictured as being outside of the church.  This verse has been used to wittiness to unbelievers to seen their need for the Savior; however this verse is being spoken to the church, and to those who were already believers that were not abiding in the power of the Lord.  Jesus is calling those to have fellowship with Him and to have communion with Him, and to abide in Him so that they can do the things that He would desire for them to do for His cause here on earth. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Jesus is saying to this church that you cannot do the things I want you to do if you’re not abiding in My power to do them.  Jesus Christ is Head of the Church here on earth, that is where He has chosen to in, so if His people are to be successful then they must be an active part of their local church in order to do the things that He wants them to do for His cause.  If there is one thing that the Lord has impressed on my heart while studying these two chapters of Revelations it is that Jesus Christ will use me as part of the local church that I belong too to do the things that He wants me to do.  I am a part of the most powerful organization on the face of this earth, and it is all because of His great love for me, and because of His mercy and grace.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  My desire is to abide in Christ.