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. — John 15: 4
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. — John 15: 9
If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. — John 8: 31-32
To read what John Piper has to say about What Jesus Demands of the World you can go to a free copy of the book and study guide at
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/1822_What_Jesus_Demands_from_the_World/ .
2 comments:
Before going on to the next Demand, consider one of these questions from Piper's study guide...
Chapter 7—Abide in Me (pp. 62–67)
31. Reconsider the demands discussed earlier in this book: believe in Jesus, repent, come to Jesus, listen to Jesus’ word, etc. Do you, or did you, think of obedience to any of these things as one-time events? Why or why not? How does the command to abide in Jesus show that obedience to Jesus demands is a lifetime affair?
32. What is the main point in the analogy of the vine in John 15? What does “abiding” in Jesus mean?
33. Why is abiding in Jesus not the same thing as bearing fruit or keeping Jesus’ commandments?
Explain John 15:10.
34. What does it mean to abide in Jesus’ love or abide in Jesus’ word? How has Jesus shown us that we will not abide in him apart from his keeping hand?
35. How is it that “we are not idle in the battle to abide in Jesus” (p. 67)? How do we actively and responsibly abide in Jesus in such a way that his keeping hand remains ultimately responsible? Are
you aiming and striving to abide in this way? Explain.
I especially considered #31 because I have to remind myself to revisit things over and over; again and again.
Dave Moore has talked to me about "getting into a rythym."
Life is not a book of lists, but circles, and we can't just check of "love Jesus" - done; got that..."repent" - that was hard, but ok, got it.....
I've developed some traits that help me overcome some weaknesses, faults, and bad habits. But, when I'm stressed, when I least expect it, those core faults pop back up - explode - and I realize how much I need to circle back to the basics and start down this list (go back around the circle..faster this time!) again, and again, and again.
There is a comfort in knowing that I will not always get it right here on earth, but there's a reason for the trials, the tribulations, and the need to circle back again, and again.
I love what Peter Kreeft said in his book "Heaven: The Heart's Deepest Longing"......"Galaxies revolve and dinosaurs breed and rain falls and people fall in love and uncles smoke cheap cigars and people fall in love and we all die - all for our good, the finished product, God's work of art, the Kingdom of Heaven. There's nothing outside heaven except hell. Earth is not outside heaven; it is heaven's workshop, heaven's womb.
Thank you Lord for telling me what to do; be born again, repent, come to you, believe in you, love you, listen to you, abide in you. Again, and again, and again I need to remember these demands.
(....Jesus said to observe his commands)
Whew..I don't have to understand, just do them.
Awesome.
Post a Comment