Forever Abiding

O LORD, who may lodge [as a guest] in Your tent?

Who may dwell [continually] on Your holy hill?

He who walks with integrity and strength of character, and works righteousness,

And speaks and holds truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2) To truly be connected, and not just professing; abide is "to live" as in "dwelling." If you abide by the rules, it means you live with Him, and you will follow Him.

Abiding in Christ involves a deep, personal relationship with Him, where we depend on Him, live in fellowship with Him, and allow His word to dwell within us.

The one who habitually keeps His commandments [obeying His word and following His precepts, abides and] remains in Him, and He in him. By this we know and have the proof that He [really] abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us [as a gift]. (1 John 3:24) Let that remain in you [keeping in your hearts that message of salvation] which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you too will remain in the Son and in the Father [forever]. (1 John 2:24) 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.

If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. (John 15:4,7,10) And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands and grasps it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, some a hundred times [as much as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty. (Matthew 13:23) Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one [the only God]! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. You shall teach them diligently to your children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7) Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. (Romans 12:1-2)

By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given to us His [Holy] Spirit. (1 John 4:13) The Holy Spirit provides the insight needed to live according to God's will. Understanding God's purpose for our lives is essential; just as Jesus is essential.