Abiding In Christ

[Thompson, Darryl]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for May 11
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Abiding In Christ

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John
15:4.

"Abide in me" are words of great significance. Abiding in Christ means a
living, earnest, refreshing faith that works by love and purifies the
soul. It means a constant receiving of the spirit of Christ, a life of
unreserved surrender to His service. Where this union exists, good works
will appear. The life of the vine will manifest itself in fragrant fruit
on the branches. The continual supply of the grace of Christ will bless
you and make you a blessing, till you can say with Paul, "I am crucified
with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me"
(Gal. 2:20).
The sacred union with Christ will unite the brethren in the most
endearing bonds of Christian fellowship. Their hearts will be touched
with divine compassion one for another. . . . Coldness, variance,
strife, are entirely out of place among the disciples of Christ. They
have accepted the one faith. They have joined to serve the one Lord, to
endure in the same warfare, to strive for the same object, and to
triumph in the same cause. They have been bought with the same precious
blood, and have gone forth to preach the same message of salvation. . .
.
Those who are constantly drawing strength from Christ will possess His
spirit. They will not be careless in word or deportment. An abiding
sense of how much their salvation has cost in the sacrifice of the
beloved Son of God will rest upon their souls. Like a fresh and vivid
transaction the scenes of Calvary will present themselves to their minds
and their hearts will be subdued and made tender by this wonderful
manifestation of the love of Christ to them. They will look upon others
as the purchase of His precious blood, and those who are united with Him
will seem noble and elevated and sacred because of this connection. The
death of Christ on Calvary should lead us to estimate souls as He did.
His love has magnified the value of every man, woman, and child.

>From Devotional: Our Father Cares, pp. 124, 125.