Jesus: The Greatest Life of All by Charles R. Swindoll

Author:Charles R. Swindoll
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Biographies & Memoirs, The Gospels & Acts, Biographies, Bible Study & Reference, New Testament, Jesus, Worship & Devotion, Spirituality, Farm, Devotionals, Christology, Religion & Spirituality, Theology, Christian Books & Bibles, New Testament Study
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2009-12-28T07:00:00+00:00

John 15:7–8

As the believer abides—that is, remains vitally connected to Jesus Christ—he or she begins to bear the fruit of Christlike qualities. The believer is transformed from the inside out. His or her mind dwells on the kinds of thoughts that God thinks. The believer’s heart begins to beat in perfect rhythm with the Father’s, so that his or her desires reflect those of God. When that occurs, we see at least four other results.

First, prayers are answered. That doesn’t mean God will become our personal genie. The promise is conditional. If we are connected to the vine and we are becoming more and more like Jesus, our prayers will not be selfish, but the kind of requests He would make. And Jesus received everything He asked because He and the Father were completely and consistently aligned in their thinking.

Second, God is glorified. As we model the character of Jesus, obeying His commands in the same way He obeyed those of the Father, the triune God receives all the credit. He delights to see us reflecting His character, and He looks for opportunities to dote on His children in response.

Third, love is stimulated. Note the absence of struggle or exertion. As we abide in Christ, the character qualities that honor the Lord begin to emerge, like grapes naturally growing from a healthy, well-connected branch. Because God is love (1 John 4:8), others will notice this divine quality develop within us.

Fourth, joy will overflow. Joy doesn’t refer to superficial happiness or fleeting cheerfulness. Joy is a deeply felt contentment that transcends difficult circumstances and derives maximum enjoyment from every good experience. It isn’t only about laughter, but abiding in Christ inspires laughter like you’ve never experienced before. Deep, contented joy comes from a place of complete security and confidence—even in the midst of trial. As the saying goes, “Joy is the flag that flies over the castle of our hearts, announcing that the King is in residence.”

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