Here in this new year we would like to continue talking about change; discipleship is a long continuous change into who Jesus intends us to be. We encourage you to start this off with a fresh commitment to live as a true disciple of Christ.

This month we will be talking about Abiding in Christ as an aspect of change. Abiding is an invitation from the Father and the loving Son to go deeper into relationship and fellowship. To abide in Christ is to make Christ your home, not a visiting place at your convenience but a place of residence. To abide is like this picture of a marriage; a decision is made to leave the home of the parents and to permanently live with the new mate.

Gal 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave himself for me.”

When this verse becomes a reality it will be evidence of your abiding. To abide is to exchange your life for Christ’s. To abide is to live moment by moment in the reality of Christ. It is to walk in the light of everything you know about Christ. That place of connection between you and Jesus is that place of abiding. Do not allow anyone or anything to take you away from that living connection. Many Christian leaders allow the ministry itself to steal their place of abiding with Christ. Activity, even Christian activity is no substitute for Jesus Himself.

In the parable of the Vine and the Branches in John 15 the vine is the life of the believer, and that believer needs to be doing three things; living, growing and producing fruit. Each of us needs to examine ourselves to see if this is true for us. Being busy does not produce fruit, abiding in Christ produces fruit.

As you start this new year, humbly ask the Lord if you are producing fruit for the Kingdom of God, or are you only busy doing Christian activities.