Nope! The world’s no simpler this morning than it was last night when I went lights out. Surprise! Not surprised.

So grateful on mornings like this for a Rock and sure foundation. So appreciate an unfailing place of stability. So benefit from having my mind set on things above and not on things that are on earth. That Rock is the Son of God. The foundation is the word of God. And reminded this morning by John how it all works.

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He made to us —  eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie —  just as it has taught you, abide in Him.

(1John 2:24-27 ESV)

Complexity, confusion, and chaos in John’s day, too. A spirit of “antichrist” seeking to deceive, insidious more so because it was sourced from those “who went out from us” (2:19). What’s a good Christian to do? What’s a sincere follower to think? “But,” says John, “you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge” (2:20). And that’s the secret sauce — we all have knowledge and, we all have an anointing. What we know to be true brought to mind and amplified by the indwelling of the One we know to be true.

So, let there be a whole lotta’ abidin’ goin’ on! What you’ve heard and known since re-birth abiding in you. And when that happens you will be abiding in the Father and the Son.

And how does it happen? What’s the supernatural dynamic at play? The Spirit, who you were given and sealed with at re-birth, abiding in you. Bringing to mind what you know of your God and the good news of the gospel. Renewing confidence in a sovereign God, in a loving Father, in a reigning Son, and in a glorious promise.

And when what we know abides in us by the Spirit abiding in us, then we will abide in the Son and in the Father. So, concludes John, just do it!

. . . just as it has taught you, abide in Him.

Pretty simple? I’m thinkin’. Pretty awesome? You know it.

Time for me to put on my broken record . . . How we need to be people of the Word.

We have been granted everything we need to “become partakers of the divine nature” and to escape “the corruption that is in world because of sinful desire” (2Pet. 1:4). Ours is to tap into it. Ours is to nurture it. To become skilled in it so that our “powers of discernment” are “trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14).

Don’t need to wait for a special day, available very day. Don’t need to wait to go to a special place, we can access it anyplace. The Book, a quiet moment, and cue the Anointing that abides in you. A passage read, a thought chewed on, a prayer offered up, and voila! what you have heard from the beginning abides in you. And then, be still and know that you are abiding in Him. Simple. Not easy, necessarily, but simple.

Let the anointing fall. Let what we have heard abide in us. And then, abide in Him.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

(John 15:5 ESV)

A whole lotta’ abidin’ goin’ on!

Through His word. By His Spirit.

According to His grace. All for His glory.