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Abiding in Christ, May 6
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
John 15:4
.
“Abide in me” are words of great significance. Abiding in Christ
means a living, earnest, refreshing faith that works by love and purifies
the soul. It means a constant receiving of the spirit of Christ, a life of
unreserved surrender to His service. Where this union exists, good works
will appear. The life of the vine will manifest itself in fragrant fruit on the
branches. The continual supply of the grace of Christ will bless you and
make you a blessing, till you can say with Paul, “I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (
Galatians 2:20
).
The sacred union with Christ will unite the brethren in the most endear-
ing bonds of Christian fellowship. Their hearts will be touched with divine
compassion one for another.... Coldness, variance, strife, are entirely out
of place among the disciples of Christ. They have accepted the one faith.
They have joined to serve the one Lord, to endure in the same warfare, to
strive for the same object, and to triumph in the same cause. They have
been bought with the same precious blood, and have gone forth to preach
the same message of salvation....
Those who are constantly drawing strength from Christ will possess
His spirit. They will not be careless in word or deportment. An abiding
sense of how much their salvation has cost in the sacrifice of the beloved
Son of God will rest upon their souls. Like a fresh and vivid transaction the
scenes of Calvary will present themselves to their minds and their hearts
will be subdued and made tender by this wonderful manifestation of the
love of Christ to them. They will look upon others as the purchase of His
precious blood, and those who are united with Him will seem noble and
elevated and sacred because of this connection. The death of Christ on
Calvary should lead us to estimate souls as He did. His love has magnified
the value of every man, woman, and child
[133]
7
Signs of the Times, March 23, 1888.
135