Closer Today Than Yesterday: United with Righteousness

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

United with Righteousness

Today's reading is: John 15:4 (NIV)

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. [1]
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

When Christ spoke these words, it was not to indicate that we have any power of our own with which to "remain" in him. Rather it was spoken that we might greatly desire to remain in him; that we might set our hearts and minds upon this objective and to bring all our efforts to bear upon the realization of that goal.

With our hearts and minds, with our eyes focused on the prize, we may then yield to the indwelling Holy Spirit. For it is by his Holy Spirit that Christ "remains" in us. And it is by this great mystery only that we may "remain" in Christ.

As Christ "remains" in us by the indwelling of his Spirit our bodies are sanctified to a point suitable for his habitation. It is by his presence that we are then encouraged and influenced to 'remain' or 'abide' in Him.

We know this to be true because we hear his whispers to our conscience when confronted with temptation. He constantly raises our awareness to sin and in so doing keeps our hearts and conscience tender. It is this tenderness that keeps us from the sin that separates us from our Lord and Savior.

And in those times when we, full of our own weakness, realize the trap and yet step into it willingly, he does not abandon us or condemn us. But rather, in the same whisper to our conscience, convicts us not only of our sinfulness but also of our own weakness and by that of his strength. He teaches us, rebukes us, corrects us and trains us in such manner that we may attain some measure of his righteousness and in so doing be fully equipped for the works he has set before us.

J.C. Philpot wrote that "... His secret pleadings with you in the court of conscience, by all these things He makes it manifest that He still abides in you." What a friend!

Shalom,
Carl

1 comment:

Bill said...: Yes, for sure ... As the old hymn reads ...

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.

Mostly says it all, doesn't it?

Bill; September 24, 2008 at 8:20 AM

Post a Comment

So I Stand Near The Gate

I read the below poem at a critical point in my life and it's message resonated with me. My ministry, "Near The Gate" was named in homage to this poem. When reading this poem, feel free to substitute the word 'gate' for the word 'door' and you'll have a little glimpse inside my head.

SO I STAY NEAR THE DOOR

By the Reverend Canon Samuel Moor Shoemaker, Jr., D.D., S.T.D.

I stay near the door.
I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out,
The door is the most important door in the world–
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There’s no use my going way inside, and staying there,
When so many are still outside, and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where a door ought to be.
They creep along the wall like blind men,
With outstretched, groping hands,
Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,
Yet they never find it - - -
So I stay near the door.
The most tremendous thing in the world
Is for men to find that door–the door to God.
The most important thing any man can do
Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands,
And put it on the latch–the latch that only clicks
And opens to the man’s own touch.
Men die outside that door, as starving beggars die
On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter–
Die for want of what is within their grasp.
They live, on the other side of it–because they have found it.
Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,
And open it, and walk in, and find Him - - -
So I stay near the door.
Go in, great saints, go all the way in–
Go way down into the cavernous cellars,
And way up into the spacious attics–
It is a vast, roomy house, this house where God is.
Go into the deepest of hidden casements,
Of withdrawal, of silence, or sainthood.
Some must inhabit those inner rooms,
And know the depths and heights of God,
And call outside to the rest of us how wonderful it is.
Sometimes I take a deeper look in,
Sometimes venture a little farther;
But my place seems closer to the opening - - -
So I stay near the door.
There is another reason why I stay there.
Some people get part way in and become afraid
Lest God and the zeal of His house devour them;
For God is so very great, and asks all of us.
And these people feel a cosmic claustrophobia.
And want to get out. "Let me out!" they cry.
And the people way inside only terrify them more.
Somebody must be by the door to tell them that they are spoiled
For the old life, they have seen too much;
Once taste God, and nothing but God will do any more.
Somebody must be watching for the frightened
Who seek to sneak out just where they came in,
To tell them how much better it is inside.
The people too far in do not see how near these are
To leaving–preoccupied with the wonder of it all.
Somebody must watch for those who have entered the door,
But would like to run away. So for them too,
I stay near the door.
I admire the people who go way in.
But I wish they would not forget how it was
Before they got in. Then they would be able to help
The people who have not yet even found the door,
Or the people who want to run away again from God.
You can go in too deeply, and stay too long,
And forget the people outside the door.
As for me, I shall take my old accustomed place,
Near enough to God to hear Him, and know He is there,
But not so far from men as not to hear them,
And remember they are there, too.
Where? Outside the door–
Thousands of them, millions of them.
But–more important for me–
One of them, two of them, ten of them,
Whose hands I am intended to put on the latch.
For those I shall stay by the door and wait
For those who seek it.
"I had rather be a door-keeper . . . "
So I stay near the door

Closer Today Than Yesterday

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

United with Righteousness

1 comment:

Mugshot

Blog Archive

Blogs I Follow

So I Stand Near The Gate

Counter

Closer Today Than Yesterday

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

United with Righteousness

1 comment:

Mugshot

Blog Archive

Blogs I Follow

Subscription Servers

So I Stand Near The Gate

Counter