I have started reading the book by Andrew Murray “Abiding in Christ”. It’s a 31 day book, so I’ll likely have a quip or two every day for the next month or so…
Day 1 – ALL YOU WHO HAVE COME TO HIM
“Come unto me” – Matt 11:28
“Abide in me” – John 15:4
I recently had lunch with a dear friend who, when we began speaking of various books and authors that I had recently read, told me, “I only read dead guys.” I laughed but knew he was serious. “I read them because I know how they finished,” was his next sentence. In some ways, I totally agree.
Andrew Murray is one of those authors. I read one of his books a couple of years ago, or should I say, I started one of his books a couple of years ago and it took me nearly a year to read. It was incredibly deep and meaty… hence the reason it took so long. After 1 or 2 paragraphs, I had plenty to chew on for a while.
In this first day’s journey, Andrew Murry delineates between the two listed verses and sets up the premise of the 31 day exercise in intimacy with Christ. There is a HUGE difference between “Come” and “Abide” and we often miss it. While most of us realize that were it not for Christ’s grace, we could not “come” to him at all, we somehow think that “abiding” in Him is totally up to our own growth, maturation, and walk – in other words, our own strength. This is where Murray drives on the point that it has nothing to do with my ability or strength… but, in fact, it has everything to do with Him.
“He had prepared for you an abiding dwelling with Himself, where your whole life and every moment of it might be spent, where the work of your daily life might be done, and where all the while you might be enjoying unbroken communion with Himself.”
Murray points out that Jesus did not say “Come to me and abide WITH me.” No, Jesus said, “Abide IN me.” Small words – big difference.
To make that change is significant. To wake in the morning with first words of “Jesus, let me abide in you today…”
“Come, my brethren, and let us day by day set ourselves at His feet and meditate on this word of His with an eye fixed on Him alone.”
Great summary. Great action item. Great application.
Running After Papa…