Abiding

​A bag lady leans forward on a rotating stool in the corner of the brightly lit casino feverishly slapping quarters in the machine she desperately hopes will be her savior.  Her sallow cheeks betray the expense of her abiding.

A middle-aged man stares into the glare of his 17-inch monitor.  He searches endlessly for more pornographic pictures—aroused on a hunt he hopes will never be discovered.  His face burns as warm as the guilt that flows through his heart at the cost of his abiding.

A father wearily enters his home at an hour long after his children have gone to bed—a pattern triggered by his love for work. A family forsakes Sunday worship all summer because a forest, a coast and a river camping site are more fun.  A teen finds her Bible boring compared to her computer game—Myst.   A Christian businessman knows the stats on every player the Dodgers fielded the last ten years but he is clueless how to find Deuteronomy.

If God had a photo album where would the pictures show us dwelling? 
 
Meditation
John 15:9--As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.
 
The secret to joy is found through abiding in Jesus.  God’s Son said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.” (John 15:5). When we devote our thoughts and our hearts to Jesus we experience fulfillment in life we could not have imagined in our best fantasy.  But if we follow the course of our self-indulging appetites we will one day learn that the sign at the end of the Pleasure trail spells E-M-P-T-I-N-E-S-S. If man made from dust glorifies dirt how can he ever fathom that what God wanted was not animated clay figures but creatures with whom to fellowship?  
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Today you and I have the opportunity to walk and talk with our Father.  We can read His thoughts in the Bible.  If we listen to what He has to say, He might speak to us profound and holy thoughts. To the degree that we involve Him in our activities and time we will experience the thrill of His presence. Abide and glide or turn and burn, sometimes the choices really are simple.
 
Inspiration
Ask yourself, Is this work, this activity, deflecting me from abiding in Christ?  If so, then fling it overboard.—Oswald Chambers in God’s Workmanship
 
©1999 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the "Click here to receive weekly devotionals" box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)