“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT)
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All throughout the Bible, Jesus Christ is shown as the perfect fulfillment and the sweetest satisfaction of our heart. Here is a quick look at all that He is meant to be in our lives: He is my Portion (Psalm 73:26), my Maker, my Husband (Is. 54:5), my Savior (2 Peter 3:18), my Hope (1 Tim. 1:1), my Brother (Mark 3:35), my Helper (Heb. 13:6), my Physician (Jer. 8:22), my Healer (Luke 9:11), my Refiner (Mal. 3:3), my Purifier (Mal. 3:3), my Lord, my Master (John 13:13), my Example (John 13:15), my Teacher (John 3:2), my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1), my Keeper (John 17:12), my Feeder (Ez. 34:23), my Leader (Is. 40:11), my Restorer (Psalm 23:3), my Resting-place (Jer. 50:6), my Peace (Eph. 2:14), my Wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30), my Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30), my Sanctification (1 Cor. 1:30), my Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30), and my All in All (Col. 3:11). Whew! He's greatest Man I know! Such a Prince is more perfect than any fairy tale hero that ever existed and He invites us to have a daily romance with Him! He delights to become all of those things to us on a daily basis! And if we are in such intimate fellowship with our Lord that He fills us all in all and becomes everything in that list above, then we certainly will not try to satisfy the longings of our heart some other way! Don’t fall prey to the lie that Jesus Christ is not enough to fulfill the longings of your heart. The most satisfying, spectacular, and divine romance with Jesus awaits us if we simply allow Him to be everything to us. In John 15, Jesus gave His disciples what may be the most profound and beautiful command in the entire Bible. He cleared life of all its complexities and confusion in one simple phrase. He summed up the essence, the grandeur, the mystery, and the marvel of life in but a few life-altering words. He said to them, “Abide in Me.” What did He mean by that? He meant, Find the meaning of life in Me. Find your value and confidence in Me. Find your purpose and direction in Me. Find the source for all spiritual achievement in Me. Find the strength to live each moment in Me. Find the wisdom to navigate the many turns of life in Me. Find forgiveness from all your sins in Me. Find the satisfaction of boundless joy in Me. Find the most glorious peace in Me. Find the most perfect love and acceptance in Me. Find the most satisfying life for all eternity in Me. To abide in Christ means to allow His life to possess you at all times and in every situation life brings. To abide means saying to God with the inhaling of every breath, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” To abide means sharing in a holy communion with our precious Heavenly Lover, and to know Him intimately. God created us to abide in Him. It’s that basic. Abiding in Him is our life’s purpose. Abiding in Him is what we were created for. Abiding in Him is the reason we are here. We are here on this earth to intimately know and enjoy our God. We are here on this earth to let our lives be used, owned, and operated by God's grace. We are here to allow His life to evidence itself through our being. Abide in Christ…..there and there alone will you find your true purpose, everlasting joy, peace in spite of circumstances, freedom for life, and unfailing love!
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January 2018
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