I’m Attempting to Abide

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail.

Hey good looking (all nice and religious) what ya got cooking in your soul? Where is the fruit of the Spirit in your thoughts, feelings, desires, opinions, and actions. I don’t know about you, but I am constantly attempting to abide in the presence of the risen Jesus Christ. Are you abiding? Or are you being cut off?

Jesus appointed His disciples “to be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” (Mark 3:14) Jesus is the vine and His followers are the branches. (John 15:5) A Christian’s first calling and primary purpose is to be with Jesus and to stay intimately connected heart-to-heart with Him.

To bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) we must remain yielded to the presence and power of the risen Jesus Christ. (John 15:4) When we stay always focused on what Christ is saying and doing inside of us (Colossians 1:27) we will be continually empowered to go be His witnesses (Acts 1:8) and to proclaim and demonstrate (1 Corinthians 2:4) His presence and good news wherever we are.

If Christians would focus on actually living the way the Bible teaches instead of mainly merely sitting to hear a religious talk once a week, many of our society’s problems would be solved. “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)

What are several things you have learned in church this year? If you can’t think of anything that’s proof that passive sermon hearing is a weak and very ineffective way of learning. Discipleship requires so much more.

When most people think about Christianity they think about church attendance. When I think about Christianity, I think about Jesus alive from the dead. I think about Him being powerfully present and active in people’s heart and lives day and night.

The Bible says, “Quench not the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) The Holy Spirit has been so quenched by religion and tradition that today we need to unquench the Spirit.

Let Christ reside
Deep down inside.
Refuse to hide
Anything from Him.

Jesus Christ arose
So why sit in rows
Of church pews or chairs?
We should never doze
In Jesus’ presence.
Let’s go where Christ goes.
Let Jesus enclose
You with His great love.
Let Jesus expose
And repair your heart.
Be someone who glows
With light from Jesus.

Photo by Grape Things on Pexels.com
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About Steve Simms

I like to look and think outside the box. In college I encountered Jesus Christ and I have been passionate about trying to get to know Him better ever since. My wife and I long to see the power and passion of the first Christ-followers come to life in our time. I have written a book about our experiences in non-traditional church, called, "Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible--Ekklesia." If you need encouragement, search for: Elephants Encouraging The Room and/or check out my Amazon author page. Thank you!
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