Today's Scripture: John 15:1-11
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."
There's a saying that shows up in memes a lot that says, "Christianity is not a religion. It's a relationship with God through Jesus Christ."
A huge part of any healthy relationship is communication. Can you imagine what that relationship might look like if that communication was one-sided only? How would you feel if your spouse, or your child, or a friend always unloaded on you and never stopped to listen to what you might have to say? Or they never just listened to you without saying a word about themselves?
That would be a pretty difficult relationship to be in, wouldn't it?
As we continue to explore the idea of resetting our prayer time with God from talking to God to talking with God, today's passage stresses the importance of this.
Think about the words of Jesus. "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you." Those words speak of a unique relationship where we essentially lose ourselves in Jesus. When we remain in him, or dwell in him, he will permeate our very being. His life will be reflected in our lives. His words will be our words.
Then, when we're so lost in Jesus that others see him more and more in our lives, whatever we ask for will be done. What you will find when you abide in Jesus is that your wants and desires will begin to be aligned with the will of God. Your wants will be his wants, and your desires his desires. The selfish desires of the heart will become dimmer and dimmer.
Living this kind of relationship, and talking with God, will then lead to the absolute best result possible. God will be glorified. His work will be accomplished in your life. You will be shown to be a follower of Jesus.
Is there anything more satisfying, more fulfilling than that?
Think about it …
- On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being least abiding and 10 being most abiding, where would you place your abiding in Jesus? What about his words abiding in you?
- Overall, do you feel that your wants and desires align themselves with Jesus interests, or your own?
- When was the last time simply because of your relationship with him, and how?
