Abide
God rescued me from a ferocious all consuming burning fire! I stepped into His arms and there I found comfort and peace like never before. While I was with Him he told me about two very different places. Putting an image, like a camera reel, in my head.
One was very dark and desperate. People furiously fighting with anything they could get their hands on. There was crying, screaming, wailing, angry shouts of hatred and malice. Cursing and threats coming from every direction. Wherever I turned I saw violence, I saw blood, I felt their fear, their anger, their desperation. I thought there was no reprieve no escape. Their hate palpable
The other was a stark contrast, the sun was shining the sky blue. There was a beach with a sapphire blue ocean, waves gently lapping the shoreline. The breeze was light carrying the smell of the ocean with it. There were children running around splashing in the waves, the sounds of laughter like a beautiful symphony. People were smiling and happy waving at one another, playing games or just soaking up the rays. A mum was building sandcastles and moats with her children their faces bright and shining, huge smiles. Their love palpable.
God asked how would you rather live?
Easy choice right?
I asked but how God, how can I obtain that? How can I get that for my family, friends, church, neighborhood and world? He told me ‘Abide in Me’ so that even in the chaos peace, joy, love, happiness and life abundant is possible.
But how? Read the Word, hear the Word, listen to the Word, pray the Word and be an example and live a life filled of the Word. He said not to be afraid to talk with Him, to ask questions, to lay my frustrations, my fears, my anger at His feet. Not only can He handle it, He’s happy to take it from me, ALL of it!
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.. Matthew 11:30
The truth is both those examples are of this World. One is with Jesus the other without. It never ceases to amaze me that when we fix our eyes on Him our world looks so much brighter!
The love of God has showed me that through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross I MUST live for Him. Not merely exist and survive, floating through life from one season to the next, but truly live, love and be free. To be present over absent. To cultivate relationships. To actively seek and abide in Christ
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:4
Abide in Christ and let him take you to the beach daily!
