He Keeps Us Abiding.

I've been thinking about what it means to be loved by God. I mean, it's our floor theme this year on Nine North: "You Are Loved". I believe it. I think I really believe it. But sometimes, what we believe seems to lack concreteness for the moment, and I think that's where I'm at with this radical truth.

See, I've always seen John 15 about abiding in Christ as a challenge, a command maybe. Abide in Him, the True Vine… come on, give it a shot, keep on keeping on … that kind of thing. But really, it's Him who keeps us abiding. The Vine. The True Vine. He keeps us abiding in Him. Why? Because He wants us. Because He loves us. Because He chose us. Because He united Himself with us. Radical, aint it? He keeps us abiding in Him, in union with Him. Even when He seems distant or aloof, when we don't have words for the ache in our chest, when we are overwhelmed by all the broken places in our lives we can name, and especially those we cannot, He keeps us abiding.