Trusting Him To Keep You

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12

We admit that that it is a blessed privilege to abide in Christ but shrink back continually before the question: Is it possible.... a life of unbroken fellowship with the Savior?

Abiding in Christ is meant for the weak and beautifully suited to their frailty. It is not the doing of some great thing and does not demand that we first lead a very holy and devoted life. No, it is simply weakness entrusting itself to a Mighty One to be kept, the unfaithful one casting itself on One who is altogether trustworthy and true. Abiding in Him is not a work that we have to do as the condition for enjoying His salvation, but rather a consenting to let Him do all for us, in us, and through us. Our part is simply to yield, to trust, and to wait for what He has promised to perform.

This connection between Christ's work and our work is beautifully expressed in the words of Paul: "I press on, to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Fix your eyes first on the that for which He has taken hold of you. It is nothing less than a life of abiding, unbroken fellowship with himself to which He is seeking to lift you up. Fix your eye on this, and gaze until it stands out before you clear and unmistakable: Christ's aim is to have me abiding in Him. Keep your gaze fixed on Him holding you and waiting to lift you up. Begin at once to say "O my Jesus, if you bid me, and if you will indeed lift me up and keep me there, I will venture. Trembling, but trusting, I will say, 'Jesus, I do abide in you.'"

My beloved fellow believers, go, and take time alone with Jesus, and say this to Him. Yield yourself this very day to the blessed Savior by surrendering the one thing He asks of you: Give up yourself to abide in Him. He himself will work it in you. You can trust Him to keep you trusting and abiding.

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." It is because Jesus has taken hold of me, and because Jesus keeps me, that I dare to say: "Savior, I abide in you."

Abiding in Christ: Andrew Murray, Day 3