Responsibilities While On The Road…“Remain In Me”

I hope your summer has started off well! As you enjoy the warm (wet) weather, traveling for vacation and activities, and a different pace, I want to encourage you to “remain” in certain spiritual disciplines, principles and values to ensure that you get the most out of this summer season…

Jesus said, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.” (John 15:4). To “remain” is “to stay somewhere physically - to remain somewhere and with someone; to stay somewhere and by someone.” What does the Bible tell us to remain in as we seek to remain in Jesus? Here is just a partial list…

John 15:4 - tells us to take the initiative to remain in Jesus and He will remain in us.
John. 15:4 - Jesus states that for us to bear fruit we must remain in Him.
John. 15:7 - Jesus tells us that remaining in Him leads to requests and desires being fulfilled.
John. 15:9 - Christ commands us to remain in His love.
Acts 11:23 - encourages us to remain true to the Lord with all our hearts.
Acts 14:22 – encourages us to remain true to the faith no matter the circumstances.
Romans 13:8 - instructs us to let no debt remain outstanding!
1 Corinthians 7:24 – states, “Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.” We are responsible to stay in God’s hands!
Colossians 3:16 - tells us to “let the Word of Christ dwell (remain) in you richly” as you share it with others.
1 John. 2:24 - commands us to “see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.”
1 John. 3:14 – informs us, “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.”

Revelation 2:13 b - we are to remain true to Jesus name.
Revelation 14:12 - we are to remain faithful to Jesus.
Finally, Revelation 3:2 exhorts us to “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die…” The time is now to act on the Lords command to strengthen what remains and respond to His invitation to “remain in Me.”

In our goal to “remain in Jesus” we must be willing to remain wherever or with whomever for however long we need to be in Jesus will and see His will accomplished in us and in others. I can tell you that typically steak must remain in a marinade for a minimum of 8 hours and a maximum of 24 hours to get the desired result. Fish, which is less fibrous and tough, takes much less time (2-4 hours). However, only you and the Holy Spirit can know how long you must remain in a certain spiritual discipline to bear fruit… how long you must remain in your job, neighborhood or ministry to accomplish God’s will in you and others… how long you must remain in prayer or in God’s word to receive the blessing and insight you need…

God is not going to make you get up and come to church every Sunday, read your Bible and pray every day – He is not going to make you take any steps necessary for a disciple. Why? That is your part! As a disciple it is your part to respond to His leadership and invitations and step up to your responsibilities to remain! It is our responsibility to step up and fulfill the mission Jesus began. Are you remaining? Are you stepping up to your responsibilities to remain – even in the summer and on vacation?

Seeking to remain,
Pastor Kelley