Abiding In Christ

Have you ever thought about why Jesus wanted us to “abide in Him”? Of course the question comes down to the definition but even that does not give full truth.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:7-11 (ESV)
The dictionary defines abide this way: to accept or act in accordance with, to submit,  to continue, endure, dwell with, be firm without yielding; but we must ask ourselves, “How can we abide in Christ?”. The first thing we must understand is that it is by God’s Grace that this can happen in the first place. We have faith in Him which involves a firm trust and love of Jesus. This trust and love is undying and full of God’s Grace which God gave us freely in order to accept Jesus and His teachings.
To abide in Christ requires obedience to God
Jesus kept God’s Commandments and we should too. God’s Law, moral, and ethical codes, are right and righteous ways of living. Though considered legalistic, God desires us to live a right life and that right life was found in the way Jesus lived. Now that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God we hear the Word in our hearts. They are kept in our memory and we act (or should do our best to act) upon them living in a way that pleases God. Thus in our obedience we abide in Him.
We cannot contain the Joy in our hearts when we abide in Christ
The joy of laughter, suffering, patience, and release are within us when we bask in the Love of God that abides in us. His Word is written on and in our hearts with the blood that was shed to save us. We have Joy because of the suffering we must go through in this world to gain treasures in the next. We release that Joy through sharing the Good News which is the Gospel of Jesus which is the Word given to the world so that All can understand and come to know the Father. Believers in God are all given the duty and responsibility to let the world know of the Joy, Hope, LOVE, and Peace, which is found when we have faith and are obedient to His Word.
God Loves each and every one of us and wishes to have a relationship where we abide in Him and He abides in us. Jesus gave explicit and simple instruction on how to accomplish this. The thing is, as many of us know, is that it is also the most complicated thing to do while living in the world but it is also the easiest. The fact of the matter is do you have faith that God’s Grace is given freely to you and you accept that your life is not your own. Can you willingly and whole-heartedly give your whole self to following His ways? Will you? I pray that all will come to know God and love Him as He loves us. He is our Father and we are His children.
Blessings to you and may God’s Grace shine upon you,
Rob, Servant of God