This new life in the Spirit we have in Christ is given to us. We don’t even have to do anything to get into it. It was given to us by God through the ministry of Holy Spirit when we responded to the Good News. Even the faith to believe was given to us by God. It did not – could not - come from us. And so, this new life in the Spirit was given to us out of the sheer grace of God – but we must do everything to stay in it.
That takes discipline. Of course.
But here is the thing with discipline. There is no genuine discipline without delight and desire. The craftsman working with wood works with great discipline because there is a deep desire to see some new creation emerge from that piece of wood. He/she looks forward to the delight of marvelling and appreciating and enjoying the finished piece, whatever it is. In the same way we subject ourselves to discipline out of desire and delight. Our abiding with Jesus is based on delight in Him, and desiring to go deeper in relationship with Him – not obligation. Obligation is a far inferior form of love expression than is delight. Obligation will only go so far. Desire will gladly embrace discipline that brings delight …
First love is something Jesus spoke about in Revelation 2:4 where He chastised the Ephesian church for “forsaking the love they had at first”. But this is not quite an accurate translation of the ancient text. Literally, Jesus says this … “You have abandoned the place of first love”. This is most significant …
Before the world began the place of first love was between the Father and the Son. When we were redeemed, we were brought into that place – the place of first love. Jesus spoke of this in John 17.
John 17:21 (NIV)
“that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.
May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”
“May they also be in Us …” There it is! The place of first love – and Jesus was praying that we get to live with Him and the Father, in that same place; the place of first love. The Ephesians had fallen from that place and were sinking into religious obligation, not desire and delight in Jesus. He calls them to return to the place of first love. The discipline of the Christian’s walk is not about rules and regulations, but about abiding – living in the place of first love between the Father and the Son. Learning to stay in that place of abiding is by way of a discipline born of desire and delight – obligation will never be enough. The Father-Son relationship is the key to the riches of fellowshipping with God. If we take care of the fellowshipping, the Father takes care of the relationship – you cannot be disconnected in relationship with God, if you are abiding with Jesus. The Father maintains it – you’re in! – but it is your responsibility to fellowship, and stay in …
There is a difference between fellowship and relationship. Relationship has to do with blood – our relationship with God is founded on the blood of the Son. That cannot be changed. But fellowship? Oh, yes, that can be easily affected. Our relationship with God is not in doubt. But when we don’t consciously abide, when we don’t intentionally fellowship in a disciplined way born of desire and delight … we suffer great loss to our spiritual life.
Abiding is the disciplined practice of staying in fellowship with God, and allowing Him to initiate you into the deep mysteries and delights of first love. Abiding is never allowing your conscious state to lose focus of who God is, and what are His purposes.
We have to know our place.
The Church is a visual aid to the world about what God is like. It is the one place on earth where love is guaranteed – it is at the very core of our missional resources. Our abiding in Christ ensures that guarantee remains ironclad. If we lack the discipline of abiding/fellowshipping, then the loss we suffer affects that guarantee, and other things, such as, doctrine and theology become way more important until these are turned into legalism … love is suffocated by legalism. The Ephesians were chastised for this very thing, and their lampstand, their witness to Christ to the world, was about to be removed.
Oh, how sobering all this is!
John 15:4-9 (NIV)
[Jesus] “Remain (abide) in Me, as I also remain(abide) 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. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.”
We have to know our blood-bought place given to us, and then develop a discipline far beyond obligation, a discipline that works from desire and with the anticipation of delight, in order to stay there … and be Christ’s lampstand to the world.
Anyway, that’s just what I think …
You are loved.
Ps Milton.