“Make it your aim to cling to Christ. Abide in him. Is he not true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise?”- Max Lucado
“Fix your thoughts on whaat is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirble. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 (New Living Translation)
In Chapter 10 (“Cling to Christ”) of Anxious for Nothing, Max Lucado exhorts that we must focus on God in order to bear fruit. However, Pastor Lucado notes, too many of us model the phrase “fruitless and fretfilled.” Since we don’t desire to do this, we long to follow Paul’s admonition in Philippaians 4:8.
Perhaps we determine to fulfill Paul’s advice with a grimace and a fresh resolve. When this happens, Paul’s call to peace easily becomes a list of requirements or musts. In fact, Max admits, he finds it hard to remember the eight virtues, let alone filter his thoughts through them.
Most noteworthy, a simpler way exists. We must make it our aim to cling to Christ and abide in Him. For God’s our vine keeper. He loves to coax the best out of His vines as He pampers, prunes, and blesses us.
In conclusion, as the Father tends, Jesus nourishes. And when people see God’s love, peace, and grace in your life, they want to know the source. Thus, God is honored. So, Max adds, bearing fruit matters to God. But, it also matters to you:
“You grow weary of unrest . . . ready to be done with sleepless nights. You long to be ‘anxious for nothing’ . . . for the fruit of the Spirit. But how do you bear this fruit? Try harder? No, hang tighter. Our assignment is not fruitfulness, but faithfulness.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you cling to Christ and abide in Him? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The secret to fruit-bearing”
