WORDS
WORDS “WORTH CONSIDERING” 6/3/19 (Across my desk this morning from Joel, excellent.)
Today’s Scripture
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7, NIV)
Remain
In life we all have ups and downs. There are seasons that are more difficult than others, seasons of testing, trials, and temptation where our character is being developed and our faith in God is being strengthened. Sometimes it can feel like you are taking two steps forward and then three steps backward. But if we’re not careful, we’ll start thinking that life is always going to be this way. Even in the strong seasons, you’ll start looking for things to go wrong.
If you are controlled by your circumstances, if you’re up when things are up and down when things don’t go your way, life is going to be a roller coaster. God’s plan is for you to be stable, consistent, not moved by any of these things. Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you abide in Me, you will bear much fruit and your fruit will remain.” The word “remain” means “to be fixed, immovable, not affected by circumstances.” If you will just keep abiding in Him, just keep meditating on His Word, He’ll bring you through. He’ll make you strong; He’ll keep you stable, and you’ll keep moving forward into the life of blessing He has prepared for you!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, today I set my heart and mind on You knowing that You are good and faithful. I trust that as I seek You and put You first, You will direct my steps. I choose to remain in You and follow Your leading in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
My Thoughts:
Today’s scripture has some very deep meaning. What does it mean to “Remain in Jesus and to be obedient to HIS teachings?” For most new Christians there is very little change from making Jesus, Savior. They are told that they are now OK. Come to church and pay your tithes and all is well. Let’s take a look at the Amplified Bible, “7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. Notice a little more understanding as to what Jesus is saying? Here is HIS John 17 Prayer and the life time sanctification factor with heart faith. Is it not a wonder that our prayers get answered at all. Jesus is telling us that we must change and become like HIM for our prayers to be answered for sure. Paul puts it this way in Rom. 8.13, “For if you live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live (have God’s life.)”
So the words out of Peter’s 1st sermon on Pentecost began with “Repent.” Cut loose your old attitudes and ways of doing things. If you are in Christ you are a new creation, the old is passing away and the new life is before you. If Christ Jesus in now your LORD, MASTER then it is very needful to find out how we are to serve HIM. Jesus said, “He that hath my commandments and keeps them loves HIM. And whoever loves HIM will be loved of The Heavenly Father. That is one of the reasons I keep posting:
“There is but one CHURCH of Christ Jesus and all who love and obey HIM are members.
And any Elder that is really Anointed of the Holy Spirit will try to help you do exactly that.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful grace and mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-Aloha.org
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