DAY 1 ABIDING: EXTRAVAGANT TIME WITH JESUS

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you abide in me, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing...You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you."  John 15:4-5,16

Jesus is our priceless treasure. Because Jesus is worthy, because Jesus is worth it, "the whole church must take the whole gospel to the whole world" (Lausanne Covenant, 1974). As we fall deeper in love with Jesus, we become like Him. To be like Jesus is to love the nations of the world. To love the nations is to proclaim to them the gospel. The gospel is what God has done for us in Christ.

God has all resources. As we abide in Jesus, He pours Himself into us. When we are full of Jesus--His Spirit, His love-this fullness affects our spirits, it "lifes" us, it keeps us sweet and simple. From there we bless others near us; from there we bless the world. The abiding value simply means we take extravagant time with Jesus daily. While we will all do this differently, the essentials are time in God's word, the Bible, and in God's presence, prayer. The specifics are up to you. There will be many variables. There will be seasons of life. But together we declare that above all else we value Jesus. His person, His presence is everything to us, and we will demonstrate this by giving Him extravagant time daily.

How are you drawing strength from Him? 

Are you falling deeper in love with Jesus?  Are you becoming like Him?


Prayer Focus:  Rashaida People

The video below is off a Rashaida woman singing and dancing to celebrate the birth of a child. 

Pray as you watch that these people who have never heard the name of Jesus will have access to the Gospel.