BECKETT in his article about the heart of Christian
life told that tostay closely
connected to Jesus. The term used in the Bible is TO ABIDEwith Jesus, which means to remain united with, to stayintimatelyconnected.HE ALSO SAID that some will say the key of stayingclose to Jesus is to learn
doctrine -- the foundational teachings ofthe Christian faith. Without question, sound doctrine is important. Inits absence, many have gone intoerror. But he points out the words ofOswald Chambers: IT IS POSSIBLE TO KNOWALL ABOUT DOCTRINE ANDYET NOT KNOW JESUS. THE SOUL IS IN DANGER WHEN KNOWLEDGEOF DOCTRINEOUTSTEPS INTIMATE TOUCH WITH JESUS. JOHN D. BECKETT pointsout to John's gospel, Chapter 15, where Jesus provides a powerfulmetaphor to describe the intimacy He desires withyou:ABIDE IN ME, and Iin you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it
abides inthe vine, neither can you, unless you
ABIDE in Me. I am thevine, youare the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears muchfruit;for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:4,5). THE BRANCH of atree is totally dependent upon the trunk for support,nourishment andvitality. From the moment a branch is cut off, it withers anddies. Butwhen properly connected there is a continual life flow.Thistransmission of energy, strength -- indeed purpose-- is what bringsforth "good fruit" -- a fruitful, productive life.THIS IS the ABIDINGrelationship Jesus had with His Father. Ifyou follow the pattern Heestablished, you will
stay closely connected to Himand to theFather.OSWALD CHAMBERS, quoted earlier, said in his June 14 writingthat youcan "abide" -- stay close to Jesus -- "in intellectualmatters,in money matters, in every one of the matters that make humanlife what itis."HERE'S the major challenge you will find: You will feellike you have something to do first -- before you can "abide." That's atrap! ABIDINGIS NOW, NOT IN THE FUTURE. Itis here, not there.Makestaying close to Jesus the number one objective in your Christianjourney. Key Scripture Draw near to God and He will draw near to you(James 4:8). Any profit earned by visits and votes received willbereverted to Christian cause.
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