This
verse hold several simple, yet powerful truths for the church is
these times, when Christians in America are bewildered about the
direction of this country (mainly downhill). First, we need to let
God's Word, the Bible, “abide” in us. This is not just head
knowledge: “Abide
in you—Not
only are remembered, but are suffered to remain in you as a living
principle, to regulate your affections and life.” (Barnes)
This
is rooted in the first part of the verse, about abiding in Jesus.
Obviously, we abide in Jesus when we ask Him into our heart as our
Lord and Savior. When we love anyone, their voice, their words have a
life in us that no one else could ever have. How much more should
this be with our Lord Jesus and His Words in the Holy Bible!
When
we are abiding in faith in Jesus, and let His words direct our paths
(Proverbs 3:5-6), then we can be confident that whatever we ask, it
will be done for us. It's easy to believe for this in regard to
personal needs—but do we believe this for our neighbors, and for
that matter, for our nation? Yes, we must put hands and feet under
our prayers in standing up for biblical truth and opposing Satan's
plans to tear down out society—but we must first and foremost have
the total faith in Jesus in our prayers to do this.
When
our faith in not firmly rooted in God's Word, any enthusiasm we have
in our efforts to turn people back to biblical truth will wilt away,
especially in the face of trials and opposition (Matthew 13:5-6,
20-21). So our first steps in shining our light into the darkness, in
seeing true revival come to the American church, is not dreaming up
more complicated man-made methods for this, but by the church
returning to basics of the faith, to get afire with the love of Jesus
in our hearts and letting that love shine through our words and
actions.
Here is a video link to a chorus written about this truth, that I hope will bless you as
you allow Jesus' words to abide in you.
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