BE HIS DISCIPLE: Abide in Him
Anchor Scripture: "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." - Matthew 15:8
Scripture References: Ruth 1: 8 - 18; Matthew 15: 1 - 9
Admonition
In my part of Africa, it is often said that true children live in their father's house, but the bastards do go, by way of paying visits, and they leave without much impacts. Such children draw unto their father, but the circumstances of their birth stop them from living in their father's house.
In Bible times, even before our Lord Jesus Christ's birth, people have been found to profusely profess their love for God but without a corresponding behavioural testimony to buttress their claims. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in our anchor Scripture.
Many professing Christians today are like the Israelites of that time in that they profess and indeed, do act as if they belong to the Father, but in their hearts, they are very far from Home where our Father is.
Yesterday, our Senior Teacher taught that our FINISHING STRONG is dependent upon FOLLOWING the Author and Finisher of the faith we profes Who Himself declared that "I and my Father are one". And again, He declared, "In my Father's house, there are many mansions. . . ." These two statements show us that Jesus Christ was never a bastard.
In John 15: 1 - 7, He implored us to abide in Him because without Him, we can do nothing. God also declared in Deuteronomy 23: 2 that no bastard will enter into the congregation of His people. With these two positions from both the Father and the Son, the best we should do is to abide in Him.
Brethren, to abide connotes taking permanent residence in a place, not an "on and off of a thing". And taking permanent residence means never going to leave again. Here, we are called to put on the attitude of Ruth who said ". . . for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:" (Ruth 1:16 ). That is the basic idea of abiding, staying put, never quitting!
I will like to quickly add that abiding is a function of the heart because from it, according to Proverbs 4: 23, are the issues of life.
So, as we close today, just as we walk as He walked, our walking must be permanently in Him if we are interested in FINISHING STRONG in and with God.
Till tomorrow when we shall meet again on this beautiful journey of FINISHING STRONG together, please keep keeping on in Him.
Scripture References: Ruth 1: 8 - 18; Matthew 15: 1 - 9
Admonition
In my part of Africa, it is often said that true children live in their father's house, but the bastards do go, by way of paying visits, and they leave without much impacts. Such children draw unto their father, but the circumstances of their birth stop them from living in their father's house.
In Bible times, even before our Lord Jesus Christ's birth, people have been found to profusely profess their love for God but without a corresponding behavioural testimony to buttress their claims. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in our anchor Scripture.
Many professing Christians today are like the Israelites of that time in that they profess and indeed, do act as if they belong to the Father, but in their hearts, they are very far from Home where our Father is.
Yesterday, our Senior Teacher taught that our FINISHING STRONG is dependent upon FOLLOWING the Author and Finisher of the faith we profes Who Himself declared that "I and my Father are one". And again, He declared, "In my Father's house, there are many mansions. . . ." These two statements show us that Jesus Christ was never a bastard.
In John 15: 1 - 7, He implored us to abide in Him because without Him, we can do nothing. God also declared in Deuteronomy 23: 2 that no bastard will enter into the congregation of His people. With these two positions from both the Father and the Son, the best we should do is to abide in Him.
Brethren, to abide connotes taking permanent residence in a place, not an "on and off of a thing". And taking permanent residence means never going to leave again. Here, we are called to put on the attitude of Ruth who said ". . . for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:" (Ruth 1:16 ). That is the basic idea of abiding, staying put, never quitting!
I will like to quickly add that abiding is a function of the heart because from it, according to Proverbs 4: 23, are the issues of life.
So, as we close today, just as we walk as He walked, our walking must be permanently in Him if we are interested in FINISHING STRONG in and with God.
Till tomorrow when we shall meet again on this beautiful journey of FINISHING STRONG together, please keep keeping on in Him.
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