The Simple Things: Remain
“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.”
John 15:9-11
Perhaps you have heard of the My One Word experiment, designed by Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen to encourage you to live—really live—by the word you pick for the year. Well, look no further. In the first ten verses of John 15 Jesus uses the word remain eleven times, in multiple combinations of: remain in me and I will remain in you; remain in my love; let my words remain in you. Seems to me ladies, we need to take the hint from Jesus and remain in Him.
Remember from yesterday, If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God (1 John 4:15). You believe—you do more than that, you acknowledge who Jesus is to you—and God lives in you. Problem is, the effects of His life in you can lie dormant if you don’t take advantage of that life in you.
Robert Munger, in his little book My Heart Christ’s Home, perfectly illustrates the concept of remaining. When you opened the door of your heart to Jesus, did you allow Him access to every room? You have His love, His word, His Spirit in your heart—does He fill every nook and cranny of your mind, will, spirit, emotions? Or do you tick-a-lock times, spaces, events, entire occasions? Is there a locked closet to hide your secrets? How about magazines, books, movies, TV? Your appetites, your passions—are they okay to share with Him? Do you make Him at home by the fireplace, or pass on by in the morning?
If you’re not remaining, you’re missing out on the effects of the greatest blessing of your life: Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Everything Jesus has for you is there, in your heart. If your love is reluctant, your focus too worldly, your joy lacking, you have no peace. Remain in Him and rest assured He will fill all the empty corners of your life. It’s that simple.
Nancy P
