Abide | Part 7 of 8
Abide: Learning to Live in Christ | Part 7 of 8
About this series
For years, I’ve read phrases like “abide in Me,” “remain in Christ,” and “in Him.” I believed them, but if I’m honest, I wasn’t always sure what they looked like on an ordinary Tuesday. This series isn’t written by someone who’s mastered abiding. It’s written by a fellow traveler who has become convinced that Jesus offers something deeper than simply trying harder. Together, let’s open God’s Word and discover what it really means to live in Christ.
Scripture: John 21:15-19
One of the things I’ve appreciated most about studying what it means to abide in Christ is realizing that Jesus never expected His followers to be perfect. In fact, one of the clearest pictures of abiding in the New Testament comes from someone who failed in spectacular fashion.
Peter loved Jesus. There is no question about that. Yet, on the night Jesus was arrested, Peter denied even knowing Him—not once, but three times. Imagine the weight of that failure. Imagine the shame he must have carried after everything he had promised. If anyone could have believed he had blown his chance to follow Jesus, it was Peter.
But when Jesus met Peter after the resurrection, the conversation wasn’t what I would have expected. Jesus didn’t begin by replaying Peter’s failures or demanding an explanation. Instead, He cooked breakfast, invited Peter to sit with Him, and asked a simple question: “Do you love Me?”
I’ve read that passage many times, and I’m always struck by the gentleness of Jesus. He didn’t excuse Peter’s denial, but neither did He allow Peter’s failure to define the rest of his life. With each question, Jesus was restoring him and reminding him that his calling had not changed. “Feed My sheep.”
I wonder how often we do the opposite. When we drift from Christ, our first instinct is usually to withdraw. We tell ourselves we’ll get serious about our faith again after we’ve cleaned up our attitude, conquered a particular sin, or become more consistent in our spiritual habits. Without realizing it, we begin treating God’s grace like something we have to earn back.
That’s not the gospel.
The invitation to abide has never depended on our ability to stay close to Jesus. It has always depended on His willingness to hold on to us. Every time we recognize we’ve drifted, His invitation remains the same: “Come back.” Not after you’ve fixed yourself. Not after you’ve had a better week. Today.
I’m grateful for that because I’ve needed that invitation more times than I can count. There have been seasons when I’ve realized I’ve been relying on my own strength, allowing busyness to crowd out my time with the Lord, or simply becoming distracted by life. In every one of those moments, Jesus hasn’t met me with condemnation. He’s met me with grace and invited me to begin again.
Maybe that’s where you are today. If so, remember Peter. Your failure is not the end of your story. The Savior who restored Peter is still restoring people today, and He is still inviting His children to abide in Him.
Sit With This
Has disappointment, guilt, or shame caused you to pull away from God? If so, what would it look like to stop hiding and simply accept His invitation to come back today?
Prayer
Jesus, thank You that Your grace is greater than my failures. Thank You for loving me enough to call me back when I drift. Help me stop believing I have to earn my way back into Your presence and remind me that Your invitation has always been the same: “Follow Me.” Amen.
Dadvotionals 