WE ARE MEDITATING on “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). We saw that it demanded the general—“abide in me”—and the specific—“my words abide in you”—both. If we love in general and not specifically then we become like the man who loved all mankind in general but hated everyone in particular. On the other hand, it is possible to love individuals and not love man.
One of the questions I hold regarding a program of absolute honesty, absolute purity, absolute unselfishness, and absolute love is this: it concentrates your attention on specific deeds and attitudes. It is life organized around the second commandment—“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”—instead of life organized around the first commandment—“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.” The primary concentration should be on surrender to and love of Jesus Christ as Lord. I say “Jesus Christ” instead of God, for apart from Jesus we know little or nothing about God, and what we know is usually wrong. When we go to God through Him we go to the real God and not a figment of our imagination, apart from Jesus. The primary concentration should be on the love of the Person, and then on these four absolutes as the result of and manifestation of that love. Otherwise obedience to the four absolutes may become a religion of law—a fourfold law—and obedience to law always produces strain, hence drain. It lacks a central resting in a final surrender and love for a Person—a fixed center, with the four absolutes as the result of that central loyalty and love. Without that center it becomes a religion of law instead of a religion of grace.
Only when we abide in Him—“If you abide in me”—are we able and willing to fulfill His words—“my words abide in you.”
O Beloved Lord, I love Thy words, not because they are words, but because they are Thy words. Associated with Thee they become different, for Thou art different. Thou dost make everything different, including me. I thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I am not whipped up by law; I am caught up by grace and live effortlessly and effectively.
