Imagine a place, a most beautiful land. Not a dry barren desert but a land with verdant hills and valleys, gently watered by the rain of heaven.
This land is cared for by the King. He watches over it and all those who live there, with much love through all the changing seasons of each year making it a plentiful land to dwell in.
If the people of this land love and serve their King with all their hearts they will prosper and feast upon the fruits of this rich land.
The rains are sent at just the right times so that the crops will grow and the vines will flourish giving a fruitful harvest so that each one can eat and be full.
But not all who come to this land remain there, they enjoy its beauty and riches for a while but then they start to wander outside of the borders.
They are allured by the pleasant things they see around them and go after the fruits of other lands that are pleasing to their taste.
These fruits may be tasty and not appear harmful but they are drawing them further away from their King. Their allegiance is no longer fully to their King. They no longer want only the life giving, satisfying fruit of his land but they feast their bellies upon other fruit as well. So does this land exist and where is it?
Friend, this place is real and there is room for each of God’s dear children in this beautiful, fruitful land, for this land is Christ Jesus and He says ‘ABIDE IN ME’
If we abide in Christ we will be watered with God’s word and King Jesus will be with us in the land in every season.
He will be there in both the valleys and on the hilltops.
We may not always see Him but we will know that He is always there with us, every moment of time.
We will be fed and filled with His love, we will be fruitful if we ABIDE and remain in Christ.
BUT…
‘Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.’
Ah, dear Friends, are you thinking that YOU don’t worship other gods?
Anything that takes away our heart and affections from God is an idol. Those things that steal our time in God’s word are poisoned fruits.
The things of this world may seem harmless but if they cause us to wander away from that nearness to our God they are poison to our souls. Can we truly abide in Christ while we are hugging the world to our chests?
Are you really worshipping God or do you give more of your time and attention to other things? Seemingly harmless things.
Which have you spent the most time looking at today? A screen or your Bible?
Precious souls, I say these things because I have been in that place of wandering, I spent many dry years there. I know how these ‘harmless’ things can so quickly consume us!
The Lord in His love and mercy brought me back but it was through hard trials and much affliction and yet, all glory be to His Holy Name, He brought me back.
Sweet friend, Don’t let the devil feed you with excuses .
None but Christ can ever truly satisfy you.
If you have wavered from that place of your first love, do not rest until you are back in that fruitful land, the land watered and cared for by the God of heaven and earth, that place of ABIDING in Christ.
And if you are still seeking, seek on dear soul and don’t give up until you are resting in Christ’s
Remember…
God not only tells us to SEEK and to COME, He also commands us to ABIDE.
Your friend in the way,
Sharon xx
Illustration from Deuteronomy 11 and John 15.
Encouraging Women to Seek and Abide... 