Abiding in Christ

[Daily Devotional]

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 That I May Know Him - Page 132