Remain in Me
Even the hum of a motor sustains what’s inside. So does the quiet constancy of Christ within.
Devotional Credit: Days of Heaven on Earth by A.B. Simpson
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Some view Christianity as merely a belief system, and others see the Christian life as a noble effort to model Jesus’ character. But today’s devotional by A.B. Simpson reminds us that such views fall far short of the reality Christ offers. The Christian life is not a program of imitation—it is participation in union.
We are not being returned to Eden, merely repaired or rewound to Adam’s original state. We are joined to Christ, the Second Adam, and that union lifts us higher than Eden could have ever reached. His indwelling life becomes our moment-by-moment source—not just for fruitfulness, but for being.
This is not a theory or theological framework to debate. It is a person to embrace. The Holy Spirit does not draw us into doctrinal rivalry but into abiding dependency. When we truly remain in Christ—resting, drawing, depending—He lives through us as surely as the vine lives through the branch. The Christ-life is not something we achieve, it is Someone we contain.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit
I do not call you to imitate Christ from a distance. I call you to abide in Me, to rest in the life that is already within you. You are not a mere follower tracing My steps—you are My dwelling place. As the vine fills the branch, so I fill you.
Let go of the impulse to strive. You were never meant to bear fruit by effort, but by union. The Christian life is not you trying to live like Me; it is Me living in you. Every moment of joy, patience, wisdom, or endurance you experience flows from My life within you. You need not try harder; you need only remain.
You are not being restored to Adam’s innocence—you are being raised with Me into something far greater. The first Adam fell, but I cannot fall. You are seated with Me in heavenly places, far above all that once held you down. You live in a new plane, in a new creation, because you live in Me.
Don’t chase theories. Don’t become entangled in debates. Follow the Spirit’s gentle pull back to My presence. Look for Me—not as a model above, but as a Person within. I am your life.
Scriptures: John 15:4, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 3:3-4, Romans 8:9-11
Real-Life Analogy
It’s like the quiet hum of a refrigerator motor. You don’t always notice it, but everything inside depends on its constant presence. As long as it’s running, the contents are preserved, cooled, and kept just right. Turn it off—even briefly—and everything begins to change.
In the same way, Christ’s life in you is the sustaining power. Not loud or showy, but constant and essential. Stay plugged into Him, and you will bear fruit without effort. Disconnect, and even good intentions begin to spoil.
Prayer of Confidence
Jesus, I trust Your life in me to be enough. I’m not trying to replicate You—I am resting in You. You have given me Yourself, not just as an example but as my very source. I thank You that I am not called to imitate Adam’s lost perfection but to live out of union with You, the risen and reigning Christ. You are my breath, my rhythm, my strength, and my rest. I praise You for the simplicity of this abiding life and rejoice in the constancy of Your Spirit within me.