Worship Devotional CIV

Jan 8

Originally posted to the Facebook group on 1/8/2022.

"Abide In Christ" — A New Year's Resolution

Worship Devotional for 1/9/22

Jesus, speaking to His disciples and to all believers in John 15:1-8 (HCSB):

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples."

Many see the transition into a new year as an opportunity to reset, refocus, and reevaluate. We look back on last year and how things turned out, then look ahead to this new year with a desire to see better things — to make better choices and reap better outcomes. We make "New Year's Resolutions" in an attempt to change our ways and realign our paths with our ideals and convictions. It is good to aspire to be better, but our self-reliant efforts often go in vain. We lack the ability to solve, by our own strength, the real problem that lies within our hearts. We can resolve to do all kinds of things, some of which we may very well be able to accomplish. But the things that we need to do or to change that actually matter in the end are things that we cannot do on our own or by relying on ourselves.

To make a resolution, to resolve to do (or not do) something, demands determination and decisiveness. Resolution must come from conviction. Maybe God has put convictions in each of our hearts for various things that we need to make resolutions for, but as believers in Christ who all share in one faith, we have the Word of God in our hearts already. We as the church need to be resolved in our hearts and minds to do the things that God has already called us to do in His Word. May all our personal resolutions fall in line with the instruction and commands He has given us. May we all be resolved to grow and be faithful in keeping them.

As we enter the new year with the same pressures and burdens of last year, let's remind ourselves and each other to keep our focus on what is true and eternal — on Christ our Lord. There are many voices in this world vying for our attention, many tempting but worthless roads that lead only to death, many lies and deceptive philosophies being touted through the various forms of media that consume our time and thoughts. But we know the way, the truth, and the life! We have come to know the One who satisfies our hearts and souls forever, and who has always been faithful and generous to us in every year and every season of our lives. We have access to a well of living water that will never run dry! If we are going to make resolutions, let's resolve to dwell there, in the presence of God, and not allow anything to draw us away. Let's resolve to remain steadfast in our faith despite the storms that rage against us. Let's resolve to stay in step with the Spirit of the living God as He calls us and leads us deeper in love and truth. Let's resolve to take refuge in the Lord, whose name is a strong tower for the righteous, and not in things that don't satisfy and only leave us empty and wanting. Let's resolve to abide in Christ.

Whenever we come together to sing praises and to worship God, we pray that He would be glorified. Jesus told us, as we read earlier, what glorifies God our Father: that we produce much fruit in our lives and prove to be His disciples. Jesus also assured us that we cannot produce fruit unless we abide in Him. To abide is to stay, to remain, to endure, to wait, to dwell. So we cannot truly worship God and give glory to God unless we abide in the Son. And when we abide in the Son, we can't help but produce fruit by His Spirit in us! So whatever God has put in your heart to do, whatever task He has called you to do, and whatever resolution He has convicted you to make, you must abide in Christ to complete it. We cannot accomplish what truly glorifies God by our own strength or abilities. Only in Him, by His Spirit, can we do His will and reap eternal rewards. This year, let's all together be resolved to abide in Christ, to grow deeper in our faith and closer to God and to each other in love, and to hold fast to what is true, all to the glory of the living God!

1 John 2:15-17 (HCSB):

"Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's lifestyle — is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God's will remains forever."

John 4:23-24 (HCSB):

"But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Romans 12:1-2 (HCSB):

"Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God."

Songs: