Abiding in Christ - day 31 - The Glorified One

I finally am writing my last post on this wonderful little book, Abiding in Christ, by Andrew Murray.  You can find the original online here.  I can tell you that reading and pondering this book and its principles has helped me to remember that I am IN CHRIST, that I am kept there by His power, and that I can live continually with a sense of His presence.  He promised never to leave or forsake those who have been called out of darkness.  Not even for a millisecond.


Abundant life belongs to those who Abide in Christ.  



If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, E

phesians 2:4-6

Jesus is seated in the heavenly places, in perfect victory and rest.  He triumphed over evil, and lives in the unclouded light of His Father's presence.  Everything is holy there.  Everything is in perfect harmony.  


As we abide in Christ, we get a taste of this glory.  As we die to self and surrender to the will of God, Jesus' glorious life streams through us in works of love and goodness.  Christ, seated on His throne, lovingly dispenses His gifts and watches and works for His people.


Loving Goodness & Activity


Just as a fruit tree bears fruit, and a branch in the vine produces grapes, so a Christian abiding in Christ cannot do so without feeling himself stirred and strengthened to work.  

"The Spirit and the love of Jesus breathe into him the will and the power to be a blessing to others."~p. 187, Abiding in Christ by Andrew Murray

Wondrous Expectation & Hope


Jesus waits in expectation until that Great and Terrible day, when all of His enemies are crushed, His glory revealed to all, and His beloved people with Him forever in glory.  He looks forward to that day as a Bridegroom longing for His bride.  The believer who abides in Christ will share in that spirit of expectation.  He will continually hope for the coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Do you long to see Him?


So, the question at the beginning of the book was this:


Can a frail child of dust really dwell in fellowship with the King of Glory?


The answer is YES!


Just as it is Christ's work to save, it is His work to keep.  All the believer has to do is to trust, to rest, to yield, to surrender.  In faith, the soul must abandon itself entirely to the keeping of Christ's almighty power and the merits of His eternal life. 


The Christian life is not a list of rules to keep or things to do.  It is not a burden or an effort, but rather it is the increasing abandonment of self to the Lord, and the increasing faith that God is working, in all circumstances, to conform us to the image of His Son, and to glorify His name.  

And now, 

little children,

abide in Him,

 so that when he appears we may have confidence

 and not shrink from him in shame

 at his coming.

1 John 2:28