OUR NEXT STEP in this exploration of being in Christ is an important one: we are not only in Christ, but He is in us. That sounds like a trite, commonplace platitude, but when looked at closely it is filled with significance—with significant significance.
Some of the passages where abiding in us is lifted up are these: “I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” (John 14:20); “Abide in me, and I in you” (15:4); “He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit” (15:5); “I in them and thou in me” (17:23).
I can understand why I should abide in Him, for He is divine. He is the center of authority and power and redemption. I was made by Him and for Him, so He is my home. To abide in Him is where I ought to be. But for Him to abide in me—that’s different. Why should He? What does He get out of it? What? Except problems and heartaches? With some occasional satisfactions from our response and development in the new life. Then why should He do it and do it, not as occasional whim of wanting to drop in to see how we are getting along, but with a settled intention of abiding in us through thick and thin, abiding in us forever? The only answer seems to be that being love it is the nature of love to want to create and develop and to be with the loved one.
Evidently He wants to recreate and develop us into His own divine image, and He can do that only from within. He wants to create strong persons who can talk with Him face-to-face, can work with Him shoulder to shoulder, and can share the same life and outlook and dreams.
If the abiding were only in Him, then we would be swamped in the Divine. Christ would be all, and we would be nothing.
O God, our Father, we thank Thee that Thou art our Creator and not our Supplanter. Thou dost create us and recreate us and Thou art glorified in our development and growth. I feel Thy expanding creation within me. In Thee I grow. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I am in Him—salvation and security; He is in me—creation and adventure.
