Abide

This past week was rich! We had a chance to celebrate faithfulness in the lives of Pastor David and Karin Livingston. I had a chance to officiate a wedding––which is always such a sweet and holy moment. We had the chance to gather for Abide last Wednesday––in what was perhaps my favorite moment of worship and prayer I’ve ever experienced (I’m campaigning with Nick for another one early in the Fall; you should join us!). And as I thought about how it was that David and Karin were so faithful and fruitful, what I want for that married couple, what I want for my family on sabbatical, and what I want for us as a church this summer, I couldn’t think of a better word to describe it than “abide.”

I want us to stay near to Jesus individually in word, prayer, and fasting that leads to deep and sweet fellowship with him so that we bear fruit and prove to be his disciples. I want our individual abiding to overflow into our friendships, our families, and our church so that we abide together in deep and sweet fellowship with Christ. We are a family in Christ. As we abide in him, we will love him more together, love each other more because we belong to him together, and make disciples together. 

If we abide in Jesus, he will keep us faithful to fight sin and enjoy fellowship with him, keep gathering to worship God and encourage each other, keep giving from glad and expectant hearts, and keep going to one another and our neighbors in love. 

—Pastor Dave Zuleger