Abiding

October 15, 2019

Prayer is such an enormous subject that entire libraries have been written about it, so my short musings are not likely to add much to the discussion. Jesus’ words however, are always worth hearing: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” —John 15:7-8 NKJV

Linda and I are not world-class travelers. We’ve done a bit, but she is a homebody just like her father; if genetics has anything to do with it, she’s done a good job passing it along to son Matthew, but that’s beside the point. When we go somewhere for anything more than a couple hours away, we usually end up spending the night at a motel or a B&B. We once stayed in a five star hotel, and we’ve ended up in some pretty seedy places. So far, our favorite is the Asa Ransom House B&B in Clarence, NY. It’s not cheap, but it’s by far the best overnight and breakfast we’ve ever enjoyed. 

No matter whether it’s high class, a room that looks like it gets rented out by the hour, or anything in between, one of the best parts of traveling is pulling into our driveway at the end. We are home! Every other lodging is just that—a place to sleep while on a journey. Home however, is where we live. It is the hub to which we always return. If we were to use biblical terms, it’s where we abide. 

Jesus speaks of prayer in this rather strange language. He says if we want answers to prayer, if we want to honor God, if we want to live fruitful lives, we must abide in Christ and have his words abiding in us. In other words, prayer is not to be a place we visit in passing. Sadly, too often I’ve treated prayer this way. I visit, but don’t stay, then wonder why they seem to have so little effect. To receive answers, to glorify God, to live fruitfully, Jesus must be the hub, the home to which I return and belong. 

Of course, home is not only where we return, where we spend most of our lives, it is also where we work. Homes must be maintained. When staying at A B&B or hotel, we don’t have to do anything. Someone else cleans and provides the meals, cares for our needs. When we are home, the maintenance is our job. Abiding in Christ isn’t a vacation where everything we want is at our beck and call. There is a relationship to be maintained, and that isn’t always easy. But it’s worth it. When we are at home in Christ, the promises Jesus makes in these two verses are fulfilled. Jesus himself is at the heart of prayer, is the fountain from which God is glorified and the source of fruitfulness.