DEVO: May 31, June 1 - Not Abiding

Whoever does not abide in me is

thrown away like a branch and withers;

such branches are gathered,

thrown into the fire, and burned.

John 15:6

 

Yesterday, we defined the word “abide.” Today, we define the cost of “not abiding.”

 

“Abide” is the verb form of the word “abode.” And if an abode is the place you live, then “abiding” is actively making our home somewhere. Thus, Jesus is really asking … Where is your heart’s true home? Where does the river of your thoughts flow from? What is the foundation of your values and ethics?

 

This is important (because we’re going to turn it around in just a second). Think about this … If Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life,” he is saying that he wants to be our home, our truth, our life, and the way we go. We wants our hearts to live in him, our desires to be shaped by him, our thoughts to flow from him, and our actions to be grounded on him. Indeed, by using a living image, of a vine and branches, Jesus wants our entire life to come from him. (Got that?)

 

Now turn that around! “Not abiding” means deriving our life and meaning and purpose from a source other than God and his word. For example …

 

·         If it’s not in Jesus, where is your heart’s true home? In our world today, it’s often in human relationships – which are always temporary since we change, move, and inevitably die. Family, for example, can be glorious and should be important. But people will inevitably let us down. So don’t live there.

 

·         Where does the river of your thoughts flow from? If it doesn’t flow from Jesus and his Word, then it flows from you, yourself, and your own opinions. You are your own God. “Well, this is what I think!” is usually a declaration of self-idolatry. I don’t know about you, but I’m flawed. My opinions change. And I’ve been known to be very wrong. If the river of my thoughts flow from me, then the canoe of my life is bound to run aground and fall far short of the glory of God.

 

·         What is the foundation of your values and ethics? If my thoughts and ethics don’t come directly from God, then both my thoughts and ethics will come from one of two places – me … or my culture. Yes, it’s inevitable that culture shapes us. But it’s incredibly dangerous to let culture define our values and opinions. Society changes. Morays shift. Culture tends to be a consensus of a society’s opinions, and if some of that consensus does not honor Christ, then we as individuals will inevitably fall down the slippery slope of not honoring God. So don’t crawl in bed with culture. Don’t live there.

 

These are traps. And our human nature constantly trips us up and causes us fall down there. By nature, we rely on fluctuating feelings, changing minds, and the opinions of others. And don’t think that Satan doesn’t know this! He doesn’t have to nudge us very hard to have us stumble into a deer trap.

 

But the consequences are real. Putting yourself or culture above God and his Word is self-mutilation. We are the branch which cuts itself off from the true vine. Grafting ourselves to culture may make us temporarily more popular, but it’s a disconnect that leads to “destruction.” Read the fiery consequences of this verse again, and repent of wrong desires, wrong opinions, and wrong motives.   

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants to trade in

me, myself, my opinions, and my culture

for Jesus, Himself, His Word, His Truth

and his judgments of culture