Draw Near And Stay Near

DAY 4 — DRAW NEAR AND STAY NEAR

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in

him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

Come up higher: Prioritize connection with Jesus above everything else.

If we are studying the life of Jesus with the hope to find a pattern we can imitate to achieve success, we are missing the whole point of Christianity. Jesus is not a guru or a mentor. He is the Son of God, the Holy One, the Lamb that was slain. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is the Word made flesh who came and lived among us with all divinity and humanity. He didn’t come to show us methods to make life easier. He came to redeem us and restore us to relationship with the Father.

Jesus defeated darkness, and took back the keys to death, hell and the grave. He restored authority to mankind, just as God intended in the garden. We do not walk in power because we follow a formula. We walk in power because we are united with Jesus. Endurance, boldness, accuracy, and authenticity are necessary for the calling you are carrying, and these are byproducts of abiding in Him. Abiding is not a one-time decision; it is a continual posture of drawing near and staying near. This is where strength is formed. This is where authority flows from.

Prayer: “Lord, draw me deeper. Teach me to abide in You and to resist following methods or chasing gimmicks. I want a real relationship with you.”

Additional reading: James 4:8; Psalm 73:28; 1 John 4:17

Journal: How do you see your relationship with God? Do you see Him as a Father or a mentor? How is God leading you to enjoy an authentic relationship with Him?