When’s the last time you used the word abide in normal conversation?
“Can’t say that I have,” you reply. Join the crowd. It’s a good English word. We just don’t use it.
More normal – hang out. Someone asks, “What’d you do last night?” “Oh, not much. We just hung out.”
Hang out – Abide. Abide – Hang out.
So you know what hanging out is. You get together with people you know and preferably really like. You enjoy their company because things are easy. You laugh with them in good times. You’re there for them in tough times. You like doing the same things – movies, concerts, eating out, catching the game, grabbing some Joe at the coffee shop, video games in the basement.
And when it is important, you talk about important things. What you believe. What is valuable to you. Who gets your respect. Whom you admire. Your present plans. Your future hopes.
GOD WANTS TO HANG
Legend has it that when John, Jesus’ best friend and apostle, was released from Roman exile and allowed to return to the Ephesian church, he was so broken physically that he had to be carried in by others when the church gathered to worship. Borne in by those who loved him, John would wave his hand and gently say to his fellow believers “Love one another. Love one another!”
This wonderful servant tells us this about God in his letter (1 John).
1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him,
so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
Translation: God wants you to hang with Him. “Abide in him,” that is, in Jesus. Think about that for a moment. God the Son, this incredible person named Jesus who was God in human flesh, invites you to hang out with Him. And, John’s invitation tells us why we should accept the invite.
“When he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away in shame at his coming.”
The more you hang with Jesus each day (though not seeing him), the more eager you are to have him show up. Conversely, the less you hang with Jesus, the more likely you will be ashamed when he surprisingly shows up.
HANG TIME PREPARES FOR ETERNAL TIME
In other words, cultivating Jesus’ presence in your life every day prepares you for the most important moment in your life…when you (and I) see Jesus. We will either be fired up to see him, or wish he hadn’t shown up just quite yet.
Honestly, would you be prepared to eagerly meet Jesus today? Have you been abiding?
“How can I increase my hang time with Jesus?” you ask.
One of the best ways I know to make sure you get time with an important person is to make an appointment. We do it with the doctor, dentist, financial planner…even with the person who comes to fix your dryer that stopped working.
Do you put Jesus in your daily planner? Time with him just to hang?
That’s what it means to abide. Or hang out.
Whatever word you use, why not find your calendar right now and make an appointment?
