About eight years ago, a new head track and field coach at my high school asked how long I would continue coaching throwers. He assumed it wouldn’t be long because of my age. He quit about six years ago. I am still coaching.
I have coached at the school for 26 years. We have had nine different head coaches. They change about every three years. I have remained because I love the sport and coaching kids.
A head coach told me I was the “face of track and field” at my high school. I don’t have a swollen head. The sport has a low profile. Most of the people who work in the administration don’t remain in their positions long and don’t recognize my name. Yet everyone knows the football coach’s name!
Most people who remain in Jesus have a low profile. The world rarely recognizes His followers and doesn’t accept His values. The cost of remaining in Jesus is giving up our ways and values and embracing His (Luke 9:23, John 15:6).
To remain means to abide or stay in Jesus. Many people in local churches come and go. They attend regularly, then sporadically, then not at all.
Moreover, many regularly attend a local church but don’t remain in Jesus. The standard for attendance is a couple of hours a week. But for remaining in Jesus, 24/7 abiding.
Let’s consider how the Bible uses “remaining in.” Joseph said one of Jacob’s sons would remain in prison (Genesis 42:19). King Saul wanted David to “remain” in his service (1 Samuel 16:22). The LORD said His name remains in Jerusalem forever (2 Kings 21:4, 2 Chronicles 33:4).
To remain means to continue to be fully present. I’ve at times sat in a church pew with my mind wandering. I wasn’t fully present. Only God knew I wasn’t remaining in Jesus. Only His opinion matters.
Solomon wrote, “For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it” (Proverbs 2:21 NLT). To remain in Jesus is to live in Him (Galatians 2:20). “For in him we live and move and exist” (Acts 17:28 NLT). Our connection to Him is more important than to our school district, job, state, nation, or human family.
Isaiah predicted that the remnant remaining in Jerusalem that God preserved from destruction would be a holy people (Isaiah 4:3). He compared it to a few olives at the top of the tree that remained after it had been picked (Isaiah 17:6).
Isaiah wrote that those who forgot God constantly worried about people oppressing them. They remained in constant dread (Isaiah 51:13). Remaining in Jesus frees us from remaining in the fear of people.
We who receive God’s cleansing by grace through faith remain in Jesus. Those who reject it, stay in their filth and will experience God’s fury (Ezekiel 24:13).
We who trust Jesus exchange remaining in the dark for remaining in Him (John 12:46). We live in Him who is the light. We trust and obey Him.
Two-way communication with Him occurs through God’s word and prayer. Jesus grants our requests (John 15:7). We remain in His love through obedience (John 15:9–10) and in fellowship with the Son and Father (1 John 2:24).
The Spirit teaches us to remain in fellowship with Christ (1 John 2:27) so we will be courageous and not shrink back when He returns (1 John 2:28).
God assures His presence to us who obey His commands because His Spirit lives in us (1 John 3:24). Joy is the natural by-product of remaining in Jesus (John 15:11).
Jesus promises to remain in us who remain in Him. He won’t leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). We will be fruitful (John 15:4). Through Him we can make an eternal difference (John 15:5).
Non-abiding people will be discarded like useless, withering grape branches (John 15:6). What comparatively unimportant things are you tempted to substitute for remaining in Jesus? #freediscipleshipresources #freeevangelismresources #freechristianleadershipresources
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You can find this blog at https://www.christiangrowthresources.com/post/remaining-in-jesus
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