A Holy Longing

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
John 15 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also 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 so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." (John 15:4-11, NASB)


REFLECTIONS:
I don’t even know how to communicate what’s in my heart right now.  I keep reading, worshipping, and reading and thinking, reading and listening while running circles in my mind trying to find a direction.  Inside I feel the desperate cry of a holiness NOT of my own desiring, longing, and burning to be freed.  Why isn’t it free, this holiness within?

Paul’s words echo in my mind from Romans 7 about not doing what I want to do, but what I don’t want to do I do.  I feel that, I experience that, even as a new creation in Christ.  Yet I know there is victory, that eventually the sinfulness I battle will be overcome because of this holiness, this Holy Spirit living in me.  Even if, at times, it feels like it’s moment-by-moment, day-by-day, one situation to another.  

John 14:11-13 says, “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.”  What is wrong with this picture?  Where are the greater works than these?  Why has the American church as a whole grown impotent in a world drowning in darkness?  Dare I say it might be me?  Dare I say it might be you?  Dare I say it might be us?  

In Hebrews 6:11-12 the writer says, “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” 

Are we diligent?  Are we hopeful?  Are we realizing?  Are we lazy?  Are we imitating?  Are we to caught up in our own struggles?  “Prove to be my disciples, bear much fruit, by this is My Father glorified” (John 15:8). Fruit/love, spiritual gifts, greater works, revelation, we all want them don’t we?  We really want to know the fullness of Christ.  We really want to fulfill our call. 

Jesus shows us the way: "Abide in Me” (John 15:4). “Abide” means to stay, to wait.  The word “in,” properly means, inside, within; figuratively, as in the condition (state) in which something operates from the inside (within).  Abide IN Me, abide IN the vine, My words abide IN you, abide IN my love.  Prove to be my disciples, operate from this holiness, this Holy Spirit that I’ve given you.  

Acts 17:27-28 says: “feel/ touch/handle/grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist.”  Living, moving and existing IN Him.  There are times this seems easier than others, but we have this holy flame living inside us, longing to exist in our whole being, to become one with our living and moving.  How do we move into this place of living and moving and existing in Him?  How do we step into the fullness of Him, to walk out these greater works?  Individually it is a daily pursuit, yes, but the second half of John 15 it is about loving one another, LOVING one another.

Does this not include togetherness?  Does this not include pursuing Him together?  Seeking His vision, His person, His fullness with each other, loving one another in the state we’re in, but knowing, wanting, and encouraging each other for more of Him. More of Him for each other, for our communities, for our cities, for our nation, for the world?  

I see it as if we’re coals, the fire is ignited, we burn, but if you scatter them the flame and heat die down.  If you gather them together the heat rises and the flame burns stronger.  Let us fan each other’s holy flame.  Let us come together not just as a habitual weekly activity. Let us truly seek, fervently long for, and intentionally come together with the purpose of pursuing the fullness, holiness and experience of God’s presence; as well as, His vision, not only for ourselves, but also for each other in this specific time and this specific place.  We are here in this moment together, for a reason, let us abide in Him, abide in love and diligently seek to become His people that will perform these “greater works.”


PRAYER:
Father, thank You for Your love that endures; thank You for the hope we have in You.  Thank You that there is no condemnation for those who are in You, and thank You that you are constantly at work within us.  Help us to capture Your vision of us as Your children, body and kingdom.  Transform our hearts so we can pursue You and love each other with complete abandon.  Ignite our hearts to make the most of every opportunity and to prioritize seeking Your will individually and together as Your children, have Your way with us Lord, we want more of You, and the world needs more of You.


WHO AM I?
I am Nicole Robinson. This photo was taken on my birthday this month.  I had told my husband Rob that all I wanted was to go country dancing since I hadn’t been for 17 years.  He doesn’t dance, but after 16+ years of marriage, he finally broke down and took me.  It was the most fun I’ve had in awhile, with an evening of friends, fun and laughter.  And the best thing was that after years of avoiding it, Rob found that in one night of trying something he had so long been hesitant to do, he actually enjoyed it.  He enjoyed it a lot.  In fact, he suggested we do it again.  I’m sure there’s a life lesson in there somewhere, but right now I’m just enjoying and anticipating the fun we’ll have the next time.