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Union With Christ, May 9
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
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Every individual, by his own act, either puts Christ from him by
refusing to cherish His spirit and follow His example, or he enters into
a personal union with Christ by self-renunciation, faith, and obedience.
We must, each for himself, choose Christ, because He has first chosen
us. This union with Christ is to be formed by those who are naturally
at enmity with Him. It is a relation of utter dependence, to be entered
into by a proud heart. This is close work, and many who profess to
be followers of Christ know nothing of it. They nominally accept the
Saviour, but not as the sole ruler of their hearts.
The evil tendencies of mankind are hard to overcome. The battles
are tedious. Every soul in the strife knows how severe, how bitter, are
these contests. Everything about growth in grace is difficult, because
the standard and maxims of the world are constantly interposed between
the soul and God’s holy standard. The Lord would have us elevated,
ennobled, purified, by carrying out the principles underlying His great
moral standard, which will test every character in the great day of final
reckoning.
We must gain the victory over self, crucify the affections and lusts;
and then begins the union of the soul with Christ After this union is
formed, it can be preserved only by continual, earnest, painstaking
effort....
Every Christian must stand on guard continually, watching every
avenue of the soul where Satan might find access. He must pray for
divine help and at the same time resolutely resist every inclination to
sin. By courage, by faith, by persevering toil, he can conquer. But let
him remember that to gain the victory Christ must abide in him and he
in Christ.... It is only by personal union with Christ, by communion
with Him daily, hourly, that we can bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
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