Words from the WORD

Abiding in Christ is a patient expectancy; it is neither wasteful idleness nor anxious striving. "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him"

(Psalm 62:5). Abiding in Christ, therefore, means to draw supernatural strength from the presence of the Lord and walk moment by moment in the leading of His Spirit.

God looks for the evidence of our abiding in Christ, which is good fruit. James wrote, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman [Gardener] waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain" (James 5:7). What is the good fruit the Gardener seeks? It is the fruit which His Spirit produces. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance"

(Galatians 5:22-23). The fruit of the Spirit comes only out of an abiding relationship with Jesus. It is not brought about by our own strength, nor by the works of the flesh, but only by abiding in Christ (see Matthew 7:19-20).