Abiding

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve for perfect fellowship with Him. They were in perfect obedience to God until the serpent (satan) came on the scene and tempted them to disobey. He tempted them to eat from a certain tree that would open their eyes to know the difference between good and evil. Satan wanted them to step outside the boundaries that God had set for them. Once they acted on their decision to disobey, everything changed. There was no going back. The consequences were in motion and would continue for generations to come. ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ says, “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 

Up until that point, Adam and Eve had pure hearts and pure minds. They were under the protection of God, as they obeyed and remained under His covering. Mankind has been suffering from that decision of disobedience ever since. But God in His divine wisdom and mercy made a way for us to get back to that place of divine fellowship. He sent Christ to pay the penalty of our disobedience. He gave each person the opportunity to come back under the protective covering of God. We just need to abide and dwell in Christ and we will have restored fellowship with Him. ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ says, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” Christ is the only way to restore fellowship with God. He renews our minds so we are not thinking rebellious thoughts against God. The more we desire fellowship with Him, the further we move away from desiring the forbidden fruit. Instead, God prepares a table before us and we feast on the fruit of the Spirit. ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” We can’t overcome sin without abiding in Him. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for making a way back to perfect fellowship with You, through Christ. Holy Spirit, draw me closer to Christ and water the seed of the Word planted in my heart, that I would bear much fruit.