Attributes of a follower who remains in Christ, Jesus

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version

In 2020, shortly after the world went into lockdown because of COVID-19, I felt called by the Lord to write for His glory. I initially doubted this calling, much like Moses did, thinking, “Lord, I’m a teacher, not a writer. There are others more qualified than me.” My pastors sponsored my membership in Compel Training for three months, and I tried it, despite my fears. After I joined a critique group, where I had the opportunity to meet many amazing women writers, I struggled to fit in and often compared my writing to theirs. I didn’t understand why the Lord was calling me to write; after all, I was a teacher, not a writer. Why was I having trouble writing when He had called me to write?

One day, I shared my worries and concerns with my best friend and sister-in-law, Sharon. I will never forget her words, “Sis, the Lord has called you to share your story and be His witness. He doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the caller. So go to Him, seek Him, let Him reveal His heart to you. And always remember, by beholding Him, you become like Him. Keep your eyes on Jesus, remain in Him, and He will direct your path.”

I understood then that the Lord had called me, but I needed to abide in Him and allow Him to direct me as I sought Him with all my heart. Jesus revealed Himself to me when I surrendered my will to Him, sought Him out, and abided in Him daily. As I spent more time with Him and His Word, my writing began to flow. I was trying to write in the flesh, but I couldn’t do it. God exists in the Spiritual realm, and His work is spiritual. Only after I surrendered to Him could He work through me to encourage many and use my life experiences to reveal His goodness, faithfulness, and character.

In my last post, I talked about the significance of remaining in Jesus. We discovered the value of abiding and its significance in our lives as Christians. Today, we will look at the evidence of remaining in Jesus.

We often wonder if others see Jesus in us. How can we know if Jesus lives within someone? Many are familiar with the story of The Sermon on the Mount. At first glance, it seemed like instructions from the Lord to His disciples and the assembled crowd. But the more I looked, the more I could see a road map that the Lord revealed to us. The road map is meant to direct us to Him. The road map shows us how we should be as followers of Jesus. What is meant by the word “disciple”? A disciple is a follower of Christ who learns to do what their master does. Seeing Jesus reflected in our lives may be the only way that others can come to know Him. Why? We are Jesus’s disciples today. When we remain in Jesus, His presence becomes evident in our actions, not just our words. How, then, do people know that we are abiding in Jesus?

There are three distinct ways that remaining in Christ is demonstrated:

1. Bearing spiritual fruit both on the inside and outside.

The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control— is described as internal spiritual fruit in Galatians 5:22-23. Those are the characteristics of Christ Himself that are developed in our lives as we learn to submit to the daily direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who, upon our salvation, imparts the very life of Christ upon us. People are drawn to the Christlike qualities we exhibit when they see the outward fruit of the Spirit demonstrated in our lives.

2. His joy will be in us.

In John 15:11, Christ assures us that if we abide in Him, His joy will be in us. In the New Testament, the term “joy” refers to a feeling of calm and confident assurance despite the difficulties we may face in life. We can confidently navigate life’s challenges by staying connected to Christ and relying on the Holy Spirit’s strength and guidance.

3. Our prayers will be answered in accordance with His will.

Christ tells us in 1 John 5:14-15 that if we abide in Him and obey His Word, He will answer our prayers according to His will. As we continue to dwell in Christ, our relationship deepens, enabling us to pray according to His perfect will and have the confidence that He will cause all things to work together for our good.

When we remain connected to Christ, these three things characterize our Christian lives: bearing spiritual fruit, experiencing the joy of the Lord, and having our prayers answered according to His perfect will.

Friends, are you finding it difficult to abide in Jesus? Are present circumstances affecting your daily walk with Jesus? No matter where you are at this moment, be assured that the safest place to be is with our Lord Jesus.

Jesus extends His invitation with open arms. Are you willing to accept it? Are you willing to go to Him and entrust your worries and concerns into His care? It is difficult, I know. I’ve been there. Only when I fully surrendered to Him and reconnected with the Vine did my life change. My desires ceased to be my own and became His. I had faith that no matter what happened, He would give me strength and see me through every challenge.

Consider these questions and scriptures as you reflect on abiding in Christ and meditating on His Word.

1. Colossians 1:27-29

Should you lift light or heavy weights at the gym if Jesus is living inside of you? Though the question may be silly, it actually speaks to a more profound concept: Is the Christian life meant to be easy, difficult, or unattainable?

1. Colossians 1:27 English Standard Version

“To them, God has chosen to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Without Jesus, living the Christian life is not only difficult but impossible. Why do we still face difficulties in life if we truly remain in Jesus?

1. Colossians 1:29 ESV

“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

We can observe how Jesus’ life is entwined with everyday matters. Despite having the life of Jesus within us, we will encounter difficult situations, yet we do not need to confront them alone! In those actual situations, we possess the power of Christ within us.

Are the weights heavy, then? Yes. Life’s burdens can sometimes be overwhelming, but we don’t have to face them alone. With Jesus as our strength, we can accomplish things that were once impossible on our own.

1. According to 2 Peter 1:4, we are to “participate in the divine nature.” What does it mean to participate in the divine nature? It means that we live our lives in such a way that allows the power of Christ to be evident in the very practical areas of our lives—the secular is sanctified by the sacred.

2. Colossians 2:11-13 NLT

“When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him, you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. God then raised you from the dead along with Christ, for he forgave all your sins.”  

1. Romans 8:11 New Living Translation

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

1. 2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to Himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

 

 Prayer:

Lord, I am grateful for Your unchanging love, assurance, and guidance. Lord, please guide me to remain in You every day and every moment. Help me remember each day how crucial it is to fully dwell in You. May I mirror Your character through my words and actions so others may see You living in me. Lord, sometimes, the weight of daily life overwhelms me. But I am grateful that I don’t need to carry them alone. For You said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV.  Be my source of strength, allowing me to not only endure but also find joy in Your company, even amidst the challenges. My hope for peace and purpose today lies in You, Lord Jesus. Let Your will be done in me, just as it is in heaven. In Your name, I give praise and honor, amen.

 

Reference

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations are taken from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001, Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. (1996). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Foundation.