BECOMING a Christian is simple – BEING a Christian is something else

Knowing how to become a Christian is simple, but being a Christian is anything but!

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7).

Such a succinct and simple sounding statement by Jesus is in reality a profound oracle of God. It is the portal to the ‘Other Side’ – from the natural world into the realm where all things originate. It is the ‘Basileia Ouranos’, the Kingdom of Heaven.

There are times when the Words of God are easy to read yet seem to be too deep for our complete understanding. Perhaps at these times we are tempted to ask God, “why tell me this if I cannot grasp and do it?”  It takes the diligent work of study, prayer, meditation, seeking and of asking God. Second Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that all of God’s Word is for our learning, our rebuke, correction, and for our training in righteousness so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. God’s Word is written for us to understand and to perform.

The greatest of all tragedies would be to lazily ignore or to misunderstand what Jesus is saying, and to either ignorantly miss or foolishly forfeit this great gift of God and your place in the Kingdom.

Let’s take a deeper look at John 15:7. First, Jesus is saying “If you abide in me”. Any and every synonym of the word abide could help us understand: We are to stay in Him, to remain in that state, relationship or expectancy; to continue with Him, dwell with Him, endure in Him, be present with Him, remain in Him, stand, tarry, remain in Him as our own.

This is an open secret to answered prayer and inheriting the Kingdom of God! The Bible repeatedly speaks of meditating and setting your mind on Him and His words, thinking on Him and His words, dwelling on Him and His words day and night; praying to Him without ceasing. And in each instance we are told that for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success, he God of peace Himself will sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

We must abide in Him and His words must abide in us – and He will perform His promises in and through us.

The work of knowing and obeying the word of God is no easy task. It takes time and work. (Someone once said they just could not memorize scriptures. Then they were asked about their home address, which they rattled off with ease. The questioner asked how they could do that with such ease? Excuses are cheap. You will do what you prioritize and find necessary.

This is not meant to be harsh or critical of anyone. This is to point out (to me and others) that knowing how to become a Christian is simple, but being a Christian is not something to be taken lightly – it can be difficult. And if you or I want the benefits of a true relationship with God, we must fully enter into that relationship. We must do what He says. (I.e., the door is open, but we must walk through it!)

Now, make these verses your abode (Memorize, personalize and internalize them. Hear these words from the mouth of Jesus or recite them directly to Jesus as you memorize them):

John 15:7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Verse 8. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

John 15:15, “And if we know that He hears us in whatever<mg3739, 1437=””> we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

John 14:13. “And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Verse 14. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”

John 16:23, “And on that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Verse 24. Until now, you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

1 John 3:22, “and whatever<mg3739, 1437=””> we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”

(The following verses have been personalized for our memorization.)

Deuteronomy 28:1, “Now it shall be, as I diligently obey<mh8085, 6963=””> the LORD my God, being careful to do all His commandments which He is commanding me today, that the LORD my God will put me high above all the nations of the earth. Verse 2. And all these blessings will come to me and reach me as I obey the LORD my God:

Verse 3. “Blessed will I be in the city, and blessed will I be in the country.

Verse 4. “Blessed will be the children of your womb, the produce of my ground, and the offspring of my animals: the newborn of my herd and the young of my flock.

Verse 5. “Blessed will be my basket and my kneading bowl.

Verse 6, “Blessed will I be when I come in, and blessed will I be when I go out.

Verse 7. “The LORD will cause my enemies who rise up against me to be defeated; they will go out against me one way and will flee at my presence seven ways.

Verse 8. The LORD will command the blessing for me in my barns and in everything that I put my hand to, and He will bless me in the land that the LORD my God is giving me.

Verse 9. The LORD will establish me as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to me, if I keep the commandments of the LORD my God and walk in His ways. Verse 10. So all the peoples of the earth will see that I am called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of me.

Verse 11. And the LORD will give me more than enough prosperity, in the children of my womb, in the offspring of my livestock, and in the produce of my ground, in the land which the LORD swore to my fathers to give me.

Verse 12. The LORD will open for me His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to my land in its season and to bless every work of my hand; and I will lend to many nations, but I will not borrow.

Verse 13. And the LORD will make me the head and not the tail, and I will only be above, and not be underneath, as I listen to the commandments of the LORD my God which He is commanding me today, to follow them carefully, verse 14, and I will not turn aside from any of the words which He is commanding me today, neither to the right nor the left, to pursue other gods to serve them.

Now, as we make Him our Abode, may the LORD bless you, and keep you; May, the LORD cause His face to shine on you, and be gracious to you; May the LORD lift up His face to you, and give you peace.’

Your Brother and Friend,

 

Mike Young