Monday, July 29, 2013
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Sometimes speaking outside my home area, I could end up in a different motel each night. And sometimes, my wife went with me and we drove. That was nice. We had to take a few pieces of luggage with us because we had to dress for a change in temperatures (Often we were going to two or three climates it seems like.), and we had different kinds of meetings to go to. So we were a little over-"luggaged". But my wife prepared us very well for the madness of being in and out of motels. She packed everything we would need for overnight and the next morning in one little carry-in bag. That's pretty smart! We didn't need to carry everything in. We weren't planning to stay.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "More Than an Overnight Bag."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from John 15. I'll begin reading at verse 4. This is the passage where Jesus said He is the vine, and we are the branches. The life, of course, doesn't come from the branches; it only comes through the branches. And He says, "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."
Did you notice what phrase is repeated six times in those few verses? "Remain in Me." The Greek word "remain" there basically means "settling in to stay." It's the difference between going to a motel room for the night and knowing you're just passing through, or moving into your own home and settling in there to be there for a long time.
Now, the one who settles into Christ to stay and doesn't leave his suitcases packed, that's the one who is really make a difference in other people's lives. He will bring much fruit out of his life; he'll have his prayers powerfully answered. He'll have an intimate love relationship with Jesus Christ. Why did Jesus say that so many times, "Remain in Me"?
Because He knows we are slow to make permanent commitments. We're more "see how it goes" people. We won't even commit to a Friday night because something better might come along. "I'll try to make it." "I'll see if something better comes along" is what we're really saying.
If you approach your relationship with Christ like that, you're going to be powerless. You're going to be up and down, and you're often going to be doubting if you even belong to Him. You can't approach Jesus like you approach a night in a motel, "I'll just bring a few things to Him. I don't want to get too committed. I don't want to burn too many bridges. I don't want to get too carried away. I'll just come to Christ with an overnight bag, and I'll check out if something a little more exciting or profitable comes along."
No, Jesus calls us to move into knowing Him in a way that's like moving into a home where we're going to be for the rest of our lives. Bring everything in! Settle in for good! Unpack every suitcase that might have something you are withholding from the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Maybe you're just part way there - surrendering to the Lord Jesus. What do you still have in the car? What are you keeping for yourself? Bring it all to the cross where He gave it all for you. You'll never find a better place to live than in Jesus' love and under Jesus' control.
Unpack! Plan to stay in Him. Jesus is not a place to visit. He is home.