New Things

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new.
II Cor. 5:17

Jesus living in a disciple by the Spirit is the source of new things that are coming to each disciple every day.  The things of the old creation do not match with Jesus within.  New things birthed by Jesus in the new creation do.

New thoughts come to us every day when we receive them from Jesus.

New desires come to us every day when we receive them from Jesus.

New ideas come to us every day when we receive them from Jesus.

New paradigms come to us every day when we receive them from Jesus.

New ways to love others come to us every day when we receive them from Jesus.

New relationships come to us every day when we receive them from Jesus.

In the world dominated by death things are always getting older.    In the new creation birthed in Jesus all things are becoming new for us and in us.

Stay with the new things in Jesus.  They match with Jesus who has made you new and lives in you.

Bud McCord

Abide International

What Makes You Think?

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
Proverbs 23:7

What makes you think you have the right to be called a child of God?   Jesus

What makes you think you have eternal life?  Jesus.

What makes you think you can drink from a fountain of life within?   Jesus

What makes you think you can always have the bread of life?  Jesus

What makes you think you can overcome human error?  Jesus

What makes you think you can see the way?  Jesus

What makes you think you know the truth?  Jesus

What makes you think you have abundant life?  Jesus

What makes you think you will never die?  Jesus

What makes you think you can serve others?  Jesus

What makes you think you can forgive 70 X 7?  Jesus

What makes you think you are salt of the earth?  Jesus

What makes you think you are the light of the world?  Jesus

What makes you think you can bear much fruit for the glory of God?  Jesus

What makes you think you can be at rest?  Jesus

If we really are what we think, then we better be thinking Jesus.

Bud McCord

Abide International

EYES WIDE OPEN TOWARD JESUS

The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee,

and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. John 12:21

True Christian living is best lived with our eyes wide open to see Christ’s love in action both within and without.  When we see Christ loving us within we can see ourselves as the incarnation of Christ’s love without. Love for those Jesus loves without is what happens as we continuously see Christ’s love for us within.  

A Hindu priest dives for days into deep silence and meditation to connect with his God.  He disappears completely into the invisible world.  While he is gone within those who are without must live without his presence or love. Monastic communities live separated to the world within and those without are shut off from their daily love.

An abiding disciple of Jesus, on the other hand, walks in the Spirit with eyes wide open to the invisible and visible world of God’s love in Christ. An abiding Christian can see Jesus’ love for him in the invisible and be Jesus’ love for others in the visible world at the same time.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,

out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  John 7:38

Only while seeing Jesus’ love deeply within can the disciple also see and love deeply those Jesus is loving without.  Jesus lived and loved with His eyes wide open seeing the Father’s love within and without and so can we.

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in

our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:5

Live in the Spirit.Live as a manifestation of the Jesus who lives and loves you within in order to become through you life and love for those without. Are your eyes wide open within and without to Christ’s love? They can be and love within and without depends on seeing Jesus.

Bud McCord

Abide International

Rooted

…remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
Romans 11:18b

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Col. 2:6-7

True spirituality begins in the root.  The root is Jesus. Jesus always was and always will be the root of all spirituality God wants or accepts.
 

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Col. 1:17

Legalism always offers us a plan to change places with Jesus. Legalism calls us to support Jesus.  Legalism is always a complete failure because Jesus does not need our support.  We need His.

It is always Jesus who is the root and support of spirituality. If we want to live a spirituality that inspires, liberates and produces the fruit God desires we must understand that Jesus is the One who sustains us moment by moment.

Bud McCord

Abide International