Growing Up Into Christ, Part II

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (1)

"Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone. They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they seek by their own efforts to live right. But every such effort must fail. Jesus says, 'Without Me you can do nothing.' Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness, all depend on our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly, by abiding in Him, that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the Author, but the Finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He is to be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our course, but at every step of the way. David says, 'I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.' (2)

"Do you ask, 'How am I to abide in Christ?' In the same way as you received Him at first. 'As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.' (3) 'The just shall live by faith.' (4) You gave yourself to God, to be His wholly, to serve and obey Him, and you took Christ as your Saviour. You could not yourself atone for your sins or change your heart; but having given yourself to God, you believe that He for Christ's sake did all this for you. By faith you became Christ's, and by faith you are to grow up in Him - by giving and taking. You are to give all - your heart, your will, your service - give yourself to Him to obey all His requirements; and you must take all - Christ, the fullness of all blessing - to abide in your heart, to be your strength, your righteousness, your everlasting helper, to give you power to obey.

"Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, 'Take me, O Lord, as completely Yours. I lay all my plans at Your feet. Use me today in Your service. Abide with me, and let all my work be accomplished in You.' This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.

"A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but there will be an abiding, peaceful trust. Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ. Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might. So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell on self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell on His love, on the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love - this is the subject for the soul's contemplation. It is by loving Him, copying Him, depending wholly upon Him, that you are to be transformed into His likeness.

"Jesus says, 'Abide in Me.' These words convey the idea of rest, stability, confidence. Again He invites, 'Come to Me… and I will give you rest.' (5) The heart that rests most fully on Christ will be most earnest and active in labor for Him." (6) To be continued.

1. John 15:5.
2. Psalm 16:8.
3. Colossians 2:6.
4. Hebrews 10:38.
5. Matthew 11:28.
6. Steps to Christ, pp. 46-48.