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My God is…abiding in me 1 John 4:13-21

14 Jan

Jesushuggingcryinggirl1 John 4:13-21 – By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.

What does it mean to abide? In my mind, it meant to live in, take up residence. Let’s look at the definition for a minute:

Definition of ABIDE

intransitive verb
1:  to remain stable or fixed in a state
2:  to continue in a place :  sojourn
Ok, so if God is remaining stable in us and we, who confess that Jesus, is the Son of God remain stable in God, let’s get a clearer idea of what it means to be stable.

Definition of STABLE

1a :  firmly established :  fixed, steadfast <stable opinions>
 b :  not changing or fluctuating :  unvarying <in stablecondition>
 c :  permanent, enduring <stable civilizations>
2a :  steady in purpose :  firm in resolution
 b :  not subject to insecurity or emotional illness :  sane,rational <a stable personality>
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.

Looking at this portion of the verse helps me to see how God abiding in me in love casts out fear. We don’t have to be insecure because God abides in us. He loves us. We’re not afraid of God’s punishment, but when we abide in Him in love, we’re empowered to do His will and more than we ever thought possible. Now I know that on this side of heaven I will never perfect the art of being fear-free, but as I live in God’s love, spending time getting to know Him better through prayers, reading scripture and meditating, I become less fearful. I know that it is not I who am in charge of the results, but God. I don’t have to fear because God is in control. I’m not afraid of punishment because Jesus already took my punishment for me. Now I live in the freedom from fear that is given to me in the love God showed by sending Jesus.

We love because he first loved us.

What are you most afraid of? For me it’s rejection, but I know that there is one who will never reject me. God abides in me. He’s always with me, never rejecting me. Because of that love, I no longer have to fear rejection of others, because I know that He is in me. He abides in me. I can love freely because of the unconditional, eternal love of my Father in Heaven. I don’t have to be insecure anymore. I have the security of God in me; God abiding in me; God remaining faithfully in me. I have to remember whose I am. I belong to the one who is in me, my God.

Where are you abiding? 

Sometimes we unwittingly separate ourselves from God. We spend time doing other things rather than reading His word, going to church or talking with Him. We don’t always remain faithful. We don’t always show love to others. We don’t always do the right thing. Why don’t we? Because we’re not abiding in God. We’re putting ourselves in God’s place. We’re focusing on the wrong things; money, success, beauty, ourselves. All of these things are good, but not when they get in the way of our relationship with God. If you find yourself in denial of God (by your words or actions), I beg you to reinvest yourself in God. Dig into the scriptures, pray or go to church. Surround yourself with others who are focused on Christ. To abide is a verb. It’s an action. Live as one redeemed. Abide in Him!

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
 
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Posted by on January 14, 2014 in 1 John, my god is abiding in me

 

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My God is…A Seal Ephesians 1:13

05 Apr

Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

You were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit 

The promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession

I love sealed envelopes. Not just one that has been licked shut, but one with an actual wax seal on it. The seal shows the recipient that they are important to them, and says that what is inside is truly their words. When you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to take away your sins, your heart is then sealed, like a precious love letter. It is sealed so that all may know that your heart is God’s. That your heart is now given over to the truth of our salvation.

The promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance

When I was a kid, my mom drank a lot of diet soda. The soda generally came in glass bottles, six packs. We would buy a ton of six packs. We even had a bottle opener in our pantry attached to the wall to make it easier for us to open the sodas.

Every time we went to the grocery store, we would load the car up with our empty bottles. That’s because we had paid a deposit on the bottles. When we brought the bottles back, we would put the bottles in a big bin with all the other bottles people had brought in. The cashier gave us a slip of paper that would get us back the money we gave as a deposit.

When we believe in Jesus, we’re sealed with the Holy Spirit, and when we are returned, like soda bottles to the store, to God the Father (through our death or Jesus return), the presence of the seal of the Holy Spirit will ensure that we are given the inheritance that Jesus Christ won for us on the cross. We have been redeemed, bought back. He paid for it, and instead of keeping the rewards for Himself, Jesus shared his reward with us, that we might spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Praise God! We are given a guarantee that the deposit of the Holy Spirit will ensure that we are redeemed.

Deposit: to place especially for safekeeping or as a pledge;especially : to put in a bank

If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Lord has put the Holy Spirit in you as a pledge. He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6). Acting as a Seal, the Holy Spirit marks you as one redeemed by Jesus Christ. Imagine the devil and his minions seeing that seal and knowing their work is in vain. Do they stop trying? No, because they want nothing more than to pull you away from Christ. But the seal shows them their work is in vain. Believe and receive the Seal, the Holy Spirit.

 
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Posted by on April 5, 2012 in My God is a Seal

 

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