Resting in Christ
It’s been a couple weeks since my last post. I have been a little drained creatively. I wasn’t even sure if I would post this week. Still, I have been so thankful for a couple days of rest with family as we took a last-minute quick trip to Louisville to take a mini vacation since we haven’t had the chance to have a big week-long vacation this summer with everything going on.
However, as I sat and thought about what I might write, I kept thinking about the last several weeks of reading and studying 1 John. I couldn’t help but be reminded that in those moments when the world around us seems to be going crazy, we have the assurance of our salvation when we acknowledge Jesus as God’s one and only son and that He lived, died, and rose again for our sins.
1 John doesn’t give the type of hard detail many want but that isn’t to say he doesn’t give practical aplication. He calls the origional readers and us to live out of the foundation I just mentioned. We are called to know who Christ is and to live as christ taught. If that is in question we should keep our bibles open to read what Christ taught His disciples.
The end of 1 John (Chapter 5) focuses on abiding in Jesus and genuinely knowing we are Christ’s. That took my brain back to the Gospel of John (Chapter 15), and I was reminded of how beautiful and full a relationship with Jesus really is. Like the most beautiful relationships, there is a commitment to growing. Time is spent together, compromises and sacrifices for each other are made, and sometimes, we even grow to let go of ourselves to help our friends.
Abiding in Jesus is much the same, with maybe just a “tiny” bit more depth. When we read about abiding in Jesus in John 15, we realize we must surrender every part of our lives to Jesus, finding our identity, strength, purpose, and being in Him. That means there will be a little pain as Jesus points out and prunes what isn’t of Him. But in the end, we will be restored to who God created us to be.
As I finish my family’s mini vacation, I will meditate on how Jesus has worked in my life, making me who I’m supposed to be, even in the challenging moments. I will simply rest in His presence and thank Him for time with my family, enjoying the little things.
Are you abiding in Jesus?
If you aren’t what do you need to do to start?
If you are, how is He working in your life right now?
Lord, draw us closer to you and help us see the pain of turning from the world to you as something so much more beautiful. Amen