As you know, Blake, the sister of my son-in-law died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 33 a few weeks ago, and her sudden death has been a sobering reminder to me of the fleeting nature of my life here this side of the grave. In Latin the truth remains: Tempus Fugit! And so today I am praying to God that I may enter into His Presence deeply, for my time here is pressing on and there is no room for delay. My soul is at stake. The one thing necessary for all of us at every age is that we enter into an eternal relationship with the Lord, that we come to see His actual presence in our life, and that as much as possible every day, whatever thoughts we have, whatever decisions we make, even the smallest, that all choices we make we remember are being made in the Presence of God. Pray for that awareness!
I pray that you and I will work on this because we must take steps to advance, to grow, in the spiritual life with Jesus Christ. I know from experience that without daily growth there is only shrinkage, there is only quiet and often imperceptible pulling away. I believe this is a part of what Jesus meant to tell us when He said: “Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters” Matthew 12:30. In the spiritual life we are either gathering our heart into His heart, gathering our presence into His Presence, or we are scattering ourselves. The image of scattering is frightening, for it suggests that we are splitting up and moving in so many other directions away from the Lord. So we must actively work on abiding in the Lord, living in Him and in His actual Presence. The spiritual life is about pitching the tent of our life every day — in Him!
Jesus said this to us: “Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing” John 15:5. These words are such a directive for us in our daily spiritual life with Christ! Let this be our choice, our prayer today!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me” John 15:4.
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” John 15:7.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2:20.
“Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked”
1 John 2:6.
“And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming” 1 John 2:28.
“Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us” 1 John 3:24.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” Colossians 2:6.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love” John 15:9.
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