Abiding In Jesus - The Key To Everything

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” - John 15:9–12

These past two weeks we have been dwelling on Jesus’ invitation to abide or dwell in him -- in his power, in his person, in his love. Jesus’ promised result: lack of striving for things that can never sustain us, relief from a life of chasing things that can never be caught, peace, joy, and love. I am 100% convinced that irrespective of who you are, what you have achieved or how you would describe your faith, the result Jesus promises is one that 100% of the population longs for. During these two weeks I have heard from a number of people. One person wrote, “I realize more and more as I get older that I can't slide by in life without daily abiding with Jesus, as I face the most difficult task I've ever faced in life--raising a family.” Another commented, “This concept must be the reason why I can honestly say I love my life. Others may look at it say, ‘what a train wreck.’ I really don't see it that way. I have an angst that pulls me to want more, different or better, but I feel I am right where I need to be.”

Abiding in Jesus is the key to everything. But how does one abide in him? How does one go about it? A big part of the answer is through intentional time in his presence. Intentionality takes work -- not earning, but effort. It is not about trying, it is about training, about discipline. Dallas Willard describes discipline as simply “an activity within our power that we engage in to enable us to do what we cannot do by direct effort.” Richard Foster says the purpose of the Spiritual Disciplines is the total transformation of the person. God is the one who does the transformation and it is only by his grace, but we have to be intentional about it. The disciplines as we practice them are the means by which we undergo our transformation.”

Below is a list of disciplines, followed by a list of books. Not every discipline will be life-giving for every person, not every discipline will be life-giving indefinitely. I recommend that you pick two or three and try them regularly for 60 to 90 days.

Here are examples of some disciplines to practice:

Bible (study, reading and prayer); Prayer (active and inactive); Silence; Solitude; Fasting; Serving; Tithing; Sabbath keeping; Music/Worship; Nature; Soul Books; and Journaling.

A few books that might help you:

Prayer, Richard Foster
Celebrations of Disciplines, Richard Foster
Renovations of the Heart, Dallas Willard
The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard
Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ, Jeanne Guyon
The Soul at Rest, Patricia McCary Rhodes

Jesus is inviting you to abide in him, to be planted in his perfect love, in the love of the one who is the author and sustainer of everything. Abiding in him is the key to living the non-distorted life you were meant to live, to creating a non-distorted community you were meant to be a part of, and to a life of non-distorted missionality that will transform you and the world.

It is the key to everything.

Peace, hope and love

Doug