Power-filled Positive Thinking-Chapter 18 A-Resting in Christ-Abiding in Him
It was mid-November, 2000 Melissa had returned to her home in California, Alberto was at the University of Missouri, Ronald was at the Kubert School of Art in New Jersey, and I was all alone, still recovering from the surgery in which my colon was removed. I had planned it that way. I felt my children had been through and seen enough of suffering, illness and even death. I had not expected the setback, the high fevers which had required my driving myself 4 hours back to the hospital and then home a week later with all the equipment in hand to administer the antibiotics myself. I couldn’t afford home health nurses, so I knew I could do this and I did. Besides, I was never good at asking for anyone to help me—somewhat of a “do it myself” kind of girl. It would be soon that I would go back for the final stage of surgery where they would “take down” the ileostomy; but, for the moment I had a very unruly ileostomy. Awakened each night in the middle of the night because the bag broke, I would be forced to get up, take a shower and surrounded by towels, attempt to replace it. That ordeal could take hours to accomplish. Shivering with cold, tears pouring down; I felt desperately lonely in those moments. Yet, I had made the choice to do all this alone.
Artwork used by permission of Ronald Barba
Very often, in this Christian journey; I have done that. I have looked into heaven and said, “I can do it.” So often, I have wanted to prove to God that I was worthy of His love. If I just tried a little harder I would make God proud of me. What has taken me a lifetime to learn is that the only way I can bring Him Glory is to learn how to rest in Him. Abiding in Christ is the only way I can live forth a life that honors Him. There is nothing that these hands of mine can do apart from Him that could bring Him Glory.
In Christ, I am God’s beloved, blessed, redeemed, chosen saint who has been declared righteous. I am, in Christ, God’s child—heir of the kingdom; while, at the same time I am His willing servant. He has sealed me with the Holy Spirit’s presence to guide me along this journey. He has bestowed upon me spiritual gifts that can be used to bring Him Glory and that will fulfill His Joy within me. Why then have I so often stumbled along this journey? If in Christ I have victory over sin; why do my feet get stuck in the mire? Knowing truth and abiding in that truth are two different things. Christ had just told the apostles that He would be going away to the Father; yet, they still did not fully understand all of what He meant. He had told them that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter would come; yet, they did not fully understand. It was at that time that He also told them, “1 I [a]am that true vine, and my Father is that husbandman. 2 Every branch that beareth not fruit in me, he taketh away: and everyone that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now are ye clean through the word, which I have spoken unto you.4 Abide in me, and I in you: as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.5 I am that vine: ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me can ye do nothing…9 [d]As the father hath loved me, so have I loved you:[e]continue in that my love. 10 If ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15 GNV).
So, how do I abide in Him? Is it by working hard to keep the law myself? No. Look very carefully here at these words. He said that every branch that has the life giving sap in them will bear fruit; although, it may require God’s purging hand to bring forth abundance of fruit. Those whom refuse Christ are those whom are taken away. They may be trying to obtain salvation on their own merits of righteousness; however, without the sap of the vine, there is no life. Christ said that without Him, we can do nothing? So why would He then say, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love?” Can I lose my salvation? Again, the answer is no. However, I may not be able to feel restful peace and joy. I may not be able to “abide” (rest upon the truth of) God’s love for me; unless, I keep His commandments. What was the commandments Christ had given? In this verse, it was to Abide in Him—to rest in Him as my salvation. What are the other commandments that Christ had given? He had said that the whole law was fulfilled in two things, 1. To love God with all your heart, your mind, and your soul and 2. To love your neighbor as yourself. Even in this, He knew we cannot apart from Him fulfill these commandments. So, how am I able to rest in His love and His joy? The only way is by learning how to rest in Him. This we will explore further over the course of this week.
Listen to this song by Avalon, Everything to Me.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
Artwork used by permission of Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright. Please go to his website ( http://www.barba-art.com) for information regarding obtaining copies or to commission him to create a masterpiece for you. Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects and to discuss pricing.
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.