04/15/2021
Do we love Jesus Christ enough to obey His commandments, and live as He taught us during His life? Have we disciplined ourselves such that we can not only walk with Him up to the mount to hear His amazing sermon there, but out into the wilderness to be tempted, onto the waters of faith with Peter, and along the Via Dolorosa with His cross, and nails? It is by our love for Him that God comes to love us, abide in us, and makes His home with us as we celebrate, and endure all these moments with Jesus.
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.””
John 14:21 ESV
What does it mean to us that Jesus would manifest Himself, make Himself known, or demonstrate that He is real, to us? This is a valid question to ask, and one that was asked by the disciple Judas (not the one who betrayed Him). The answer that Jesus gave him is more than interesting... it should thrill us to no end. Listen to what Jesus said...
“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
John 14:23 ESV
Jesus will be manifest to us through our loving God, and will join Him in abiding in us. We accept readily that God would abide in Christ, but to realize that He also comes to abide in us is at once both glorious, and also frightening, because as men we often find ourselves stumbling in our lives, and faith. If the redeeming quality of Jesus were not manifest, or shown to us, and made real to us, then where would we be?
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”
John 14:20 ESV
Isn’t it true that none of us wants to stand before God in final judgement with unforgiven sins? So, if that is truth then it would be with great trepidation that we would want God in us as we actually committed them! Yet, isn’t that exactly what will happen if we sin with God abiding in us? The only way for us to be able to have Him within us, is to also know that Jesus is there too, and to understand how He covers our sin with the blood of His sacrifice... this is what God makes known to us... this is the truth in Jesus, and very real manifestation of Christ.
I was talking with a fellow believer last night, and he was telling me about the moment in his life in which Jesus suddenly became absolutely real to him. When hearing testimonies like this I am always quickened in my belief, thrilled, and with every hair on my body standing erect, I am lifted up in my own faith. Have you ever experienced this?
Well, every one of us who has ever been called to God though Jesus has a story to tell of that instant when Christ was manifest to them. There is a moment in every believer’s walk of faith when the reality of Christ becomes more than a conviction, a thought, or a simple expression of what might be possible... it becomes absolutely real to them. This is that instant when not loving God becomes impossible for us, and any slip in our walk of faith brings us to unbearable remorse as we pray for God’s forgiveness in the blood of His Son.
So has God come to abide in you? Are you the temple that He has made to be His home, and residence? If so, then you love Jesus, and most certainly He loves you, and has been made real to you. He has been manifest in all His glory to you, and His commandments have become your own.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for calling me to your Son Jesus, and making Him real to me as I obey His commandments, and come to love Him more each day. Thank you Lord for coming with Jesus to make your home in me, and for showing me the redemption I receive through Him for every sin I might commit. Help me Father to open my heart, and love you perfectly as He is manifest in my life, and I come to abide in you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who reveals your power through the love that you show me through Jesus Christ. Praised be your name for the comfort I receive in the manifestation of your Son, and the absolute perfection of my salvation through Him. Merciful and good are you Lord, and I pray that you keep your hand upon me always. Your grace flows within me Father as it gushes forth from Jesus, and fills me to overflowing. Teach me to become more righteous with every passing moment, and with each prayer I lift up to you. Wash me clean in the blood of your Holy Lamb, Jesus, and hear my love and adoration for Him in each prayer I sigh to you. Seat me now, and forevermore at your side, and make Christ manifest in me throughout eternity. Praised be your name Father, for you are great, and greatly to be praised!
Rich Forbes