If you go through the Bible there is an amazing number of times the words “in Him”, “in Jesus” and “in Christ” appear. There is real power and freedom in knowing we are connected and are “in Him”. We are in Jesus.
The thing is that once we ask Jesus to be part of our lives, we have a covenant agreement that says we don’t need to do anything else to be approved to be by Him. We’ve been given a gift of connection, and union with Jesus.
So often however people can feel like God might withdraw His agreement if they don’t do, say, or be the “right” things. It’s exhausting for people.
But that’s not true. “We abide by agreement. Meaning, we experience the power of our union through our obedience to stay, dwell, and remain. We can’t prove anything, say anything, or do anything to enter this place.” (Graham Cooke)
If we chose continually to live in the space of abiding in Jesus, knowing that He was not going to withdraw His love, that He is with us, and that we are free to enjoy life, I wonder how much more peaceful we would all be.
Unfortunately, we let worries, circumstances, and the desire for other things, to pull us away from that union. He doesn’t step away from us, but we can step away from Him.
“Being in Christ is the Father’s gift to us; staying in Christ is our gift to Him.” Our peace is the evidence that we are abiding correctly”.
I encourage you to regularly check your peace, and ask yourself daily, “Where am I doubting or withholding parts of myself from God? How can I remain in Him more to find rest?
We can remind ourselves that it is through abiding in Him that we find peace, which helps us stay out of fear, anxiety, and doubt. Consequently, we will live more vitally connected to Him and our peace and joy will reflect that.
“Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)
Prayer: Lord thank you for the gift of relationship and dwelling in you. Help me to be aware when I step out of that closeness to you and get into fear, worry and striving, and putting other things before you. Let my peace be the evidence that I am abiding correctly in you. In Jesus Name Amen.
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