Abiding, Still

As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. John 15:9

“Okay, so abide means to rest in Christ—all safe, and snug, and peaceful in the arms of our Father—no matter what storms rage around us. I get the picture. What else does abiding look like?” I asked the Lord. After all, I figure two visuals are better than one if He’s wanting to drive home a point.

Jesus and His disciples are in a remote, barren place.[i] The sun is setting after a long, jam-packed day of preaching and healings among the great throng of men, women, and children gathered. Five-thousand-plus hungry, expectant men, women, and children, to be specific.

“Send them away to buy food for themselves,” Jesus’ disciples suggest.

He answers, “You give them something to eat.”

Um-m . . . five loaves and two fishes. You’re kidding.

Taking the meager fare in hand, Jesus looks up to heaven. Faith takes hold of the unseen provisions waiting in the wings.[ii] Like a shepherd tending his flock, the Good Shepherd blesses, He gives to His disciples and satisfies the desires of every living thing sitting before Him at His grassy table.[iii]

Jesus, root us deeply in that place of abiding in You. That confident, thankful place where—like You, when what was at hand had fallen short—we reach for and lay hold of the substance of things hoped for. Grace us with generous hearts to then disperse to those around us because we know there’s much, much more where that came from.

[i] Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; John 6 [ii] Hebrews 11:1 [iii] Psalm 23; Psalm 145:16