Theological ~ The Contentment of Abiding

"Abide in me"

What is most beautiful about Jesus's choice of word here, to abide? In particular, I would like to focus on how "abiding" emphasizes the gift already received. Jesus does not say, "do this or that" and then you will have me, he says, "have me, then stay with me."

The order here is important. Too often in life, we focus on everything we must do before we can have the thing. Every achievement seems to impose demands upon us: obtaining the goal is conditional upon our efforts.

Yet, this is not how grace works. God gives Himself to us first. He initiates every good thing in our lives--every goal, dream, relationship, and capacity for love and service is a gift from Him. Our job is to follow those prompts, and grow the gift. 

Paul said, "I no longer live, but Christ in me."

First, what was crucified in him? The old life of craving, striving, and straining after the endlessly distant horizons of achievement, power, pleasure, wealth, control, and so on. The idol sits off at a distance and demands blood before it will answer the prayer, which it never does. The idol dangles love conditionally, which it ultimately refuses to give.

In contrast, God loves us lavishly on the front end. He never withholds His love, His peace, His joy. He is never distant, but always close. In the story of the prodigal son, the father initiates reconciliation by running first to the returning son. In the same way, God runs to meet us right where we are. The only thing that stops Him is our "no." Yet, as soon as we open up ourselves to him, just as with the returning prodigal, the whole feast is ours.

Abiding strikes the perfect balance between contemplation and action, God and me. When I abide, I receive the gift, whole and complete. God gets the glory, I simply receive what He gives. Yet, I must keep my heart open and docile to what God gives. God gives me people to love and care for. He gives me a daily routine to be faithful to. He invites me to spend time with Him one on one in prayer and contemplative activities. God, who is love, enflames my heart with love of others and creation. This drives me outward. Yet, it starts with a flame God inspires.

When undertaking anything in life, we should ask ourselves:

Is there an emptiness inside me that I am trying to fill up? Do I feel that I am deficient, or that my life is deficient? Do I think that other peoples lives matter more than my own? If so, God is not with me, because in God there is completion, joy, and peace.

Or, am I starting this activity or undertaking with a sense of being rewarded already? Is the process mysteriously satisfying? Although there may be much to do, do I somehow feel that I've already arrived? These are signs that God is with me in the doing of the thing. When I act with God, I abide in the gift received.