I find myself sitting at the computer wondering what to write. Usually my posts are written several days if not weeks in advance. But since I have been spending all of my time finishing the ABCJLM Bible Coloring book, I haven’t been writing. So this morning a post needs to go viral and I find myself without a topic!
As I type I pray for wisdom. What do my friends need to hear? What will encouraging them to keep loving God and those around them?
The Holy Spirit kept answering me, “Tell them to abide.”
Okay. I can do that! But it has become almost cliche and void of deep meaning. What does it mean to truly abide?
So, I hit google searching and I find that the Webster definition is void of the answer.
- Accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation): “I would abide by their decision”.
- Be unable to tolerate (someone or something): “I cannot abide a lack of discipline”.
Not what I was looking for. There must be more.
According to one source, there are five different words in the original Greek and Hebrew to the one word (abide) in English. Also using the Greek Translation Bible Study Tool (who knew that was even available online?), I looked up the five words.
- menein – remain
- katameno – to remain permanently
- parameno – to remain beside, continue always near to survive, remain alive
- hupomeno – to remain in a place instead of leaving it; to stay behind or persevere
- prosmeno – to remain with, to continue with one to hold fast to: the grace of God received in the Gospel to remain still, tarry, stay
Now, I am no Greek or Hebrew scholar. But I can see a common theme. Remain.
While searching this topic, I came upon a blog by Mark Daniels. On it he says,
“The people who live and accomplish things of lasting value are the ones who remain connected to the only source of life that exists, the God we know through Jesus Christ.”
Want to have a life of lasting value? Remain connected. Abide in Christ.
How do you do this? Thirst, hunger, and seek God in all aspects of your life.
9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
This week, make it one of lasting value. The Lord won’t forsake your efforts. Go abide with the only source of life that exists.
If you missed our series on having quiet times, I encourage you to
click back to the beginning to read the how, what, when, where, and why of quiet times as well as ideas of what to study.
How do you daily, moment by moment, abide in Christ?
