Remain (abide) in me...

Jesus has astonishing things to say in John 15.  He's got less than a week to live, he's told disciples they will desert him, others that they will betray him, and eluded to leaving the disciples.

John 15:7 "If you remain in me and my words remain in you....."  Things remain in my basement, attic, and garage.  They collect dust and are likely never to be used again or affect me.

The greek word translated in the NIV as "remain" is translated as "abide" in the KJV and conveys the meaning to live in or dwell. This is what Jesus is getting at when he starts this discourse with an illustration of vines and branches. We are to live and abide in him and his words are to live and abide in us. The things (sorry Krissy and Ginger) that abide in my house - they live there, dwell, affect, make a difference.  I make room for them, they impact my life, everything involves them to some degree.  So it is with Jesus. Christ's word is to abide and live within us.  It is to make a difference in our lives. Don't wait for a person, church, conference, or book to move you. They can help, but ultimately it comes down to allowing the words of Christ to abide in and move us.

Circumstances move and shake us.  Money.  Jobs.  Emotions.  Academics. Performance.  Past experiences. The economy. Unhealthy family dynamics. Success. Unhealthy relationships. Every single day I'm faced with a world that wants me to live a circumstantial life. Jesus wants us to live above circumstances to live eternally significant lives. Where circumstances don't drive us, motivate, and move us.  They're realities but we don't have to be products of them.  That can only happen if the word lives within us. How do we know what eternal significance is if we don't know his word, if we only know little snippets here and there and vague ideas? Ever feel like God has some important things to share or you'd like to hear....it's true!

What would it look like for every Chrisitian to embrace and live in his words? I would talk different, my selfishness and ego would diminish, my indifference would melt away, i'd see people like God does, the drive to consume all of my time, money, and resources on myself would be challenged, my goals would start to include things God cares about....

You can start by reading John 15.  Then read it again.  Read it until you get it.  Read it until it's in you.  Read it until you're connected to the true vine and pray for that desire to remain in him and he in you.

Some ideas and suggestions to allow God's word to live in you:
Pray about his word.  What does it mean for you? Read it again, read the same verse for a week.  Journal about it. Memorize scripture. Go act on it. Talk to someone else about it.

 Go do it Christian, you are called to that. You are called to eternal significance!

Are You Moved?

 

Let's move in those lost and frantic freshmen!! 

This coming Friday, August 20th CSF will be stationed at Towers and possibly some other dorms to help move in students.  Breakfast will start at 7:30 am for all helpers, and then we'll start the movin' and go throughout the afternoon.

If you know of someone that is moving in Friday be sure to tell them to come find us! Also, if you want to help us out in anyway stop by the CSF house Friday! Check out the event listed on our Facebook page to RSVP or get more information. 

 

Guard your steps....and...listen...

Listen. Ecclesiastes 5 – “Guard your steps…..LISTEN….” Is blocking out distractions as hard for you as it is for me in order to listen to Jesus? I can’t quiet my mind. It’s mental ping pong, back and forth, all over the place. It was about ministry, it was about Jesus, a person, a group, drifting here and there. Even the devil thinks *about* Jesus and *about* people, but I want to listen and let him speak truth into my life. I started praying when I tried to be quiet…praying isn’t bad right? But I wasn’t trying to pray, I just went into auto-pilot with quiet reflective time. I want to listen to the truth, life, and eternal joy that only Christ offers. I need to let HIM speak to me. He has something to say, his Word needs to infect my heart, his death needs to move my soul.

John 10:1-2 speaks of one sneaking in and another at the door.

The surprises are not Jesus.  The surprises are not Jesus. The first word in Hebrew in that passage is repeated twice, an ancient way of calling attention. That’s translated ‘Verily, verily’ in the KJV, ‘truly’, and ‘surely’ in other versions. The thief comes in a surprise fashion, bringing special attention. We are sometimes grabbed by things that are special, different - novelties that set us or something apart. Novelties gain our attention and excite our passions for newness, freshness, and something different. When we’re bored or it’s not working any more, we can trade one novelty for another. Jesus transcends all novelty and feelings of newness and excitement. His powerful and perfect Love of “the world”, in which he means the totality of humanity, isn’t about novelty. Jesus is perfection and He stands alone, awaiting our attention and passion.

Jesus is the one at the door. He is simple, no surprises and nothing sneaky or novel. Can we listen to that eternally powerful message? Let us not await novel, new, fresh, man made ideas and visions – but the living, resurrected, right now, Jesus. Let Jesus take His only place, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords of our lives and our listening. Go do it.

Journal about it. Write about it.  Reflect on scripture that speaks to this, read it again, pray about the scripture you read – allow God to speak to your heart and soul as the King of Kings.  Write a poem about it.  Go somewhere because of this and LISTEN. Someone reading this knows in their heart that they need, want, and desire God to speak. Join me in trying to reclaim the ability to listen.