The focus today was on John 15:4... I love the ESV because it uses the Word Abide.. just love that word! Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
I decided to do a bit of word study, so pulled up Strong's App and looked at Abide.. I know what the word means but saw two things today I really don't think I ever saw before..
"To stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy"... expectancy! God keeps putting that word before my eyes. It also means to "Be Present."
So I am to abide with expectancy... or in expectancy.. expectancy of what.. of God and His promises... expecting Him to bring to completion that which He has begun in me (Phil 1:6)... to work things out for good (Rom 8:28)... expecting Him to never leave me or forsake me (Heb 13:5) and soo much more! Isn't that the coolest thing! I mean we know that.. know that His promises are true and will be fulfilled, but I love that He included it in that abiding.
And then Be Present.. that one really hit me. NIV says Remain in Me and I will remain in you. So be present in Christ and Christ will be present in you. Not yesterday.. not tomorrow.. today.. present.. now! This, for me, is all about that daily surrender. Today I choose to be present in Christ.. to die to self .. take up the cross He has for me.. and expect Him to be Who He says He is and do what He says He will do!
