Abide

Our thought from last week was connecting with people begins with love. We open our hearts to others by caring for them, befriending them, sharing life with them. In short – we abide with them. Take a minute and think about the word abide. Think several synonyms for the word abide. Do you have a favorite one? What sort of imagery does that word bring to mind? 

Kristi McLellend wrote in her study “Jesus and Women”:

             “In the Jesus first-century world – hospitality and communal living 

              were central to culture. So it comes as no surprise that the ideas of

             house and affiliation were also very important. You were not so much known                  for your job or your work, but your people and the house you were part of."

 

How beautiful that the same applies to us now! God wants to be with us. Now, we are the temple where God dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. He truly abides with us. 

 

Hospitality and communal living are still central to the culture in Arua. Most everything is done with someone or many someones. From washing clothes to cooking dinner to walking for water, to returning home from school, to sitting under the mango tree passing the time, to raising kids. Someone is always around you and with you. This communal living can seem intrusive at first, but we can learn a lot from this way of living. No one is in a hurry because communal living often focuses more on the person than the task at hand. There is plenty of time for a variety of conversations while doing these daily tasks. On the upside, having someone with you makes the task more bearable, easier, and just plain fun. 

 

Stop here for a moment and read Acts 2:41-47

The apostles created a communal and hospitable culture with themselves and the daily new believers. 

Why? 

New believers needed each other to learn and thrive in their new beliefs as Christians. The apostles needed it for encouragement and strength in daily life. They all needed a place of refuge and shelter in a culture that was trying so hard to squash the teaching that Jesus was the Messiah. 

 

Our family mentors and college students model this culture. Each house becomes its own as the families and students get to know each other, blending their cultures and traditions. Family Mentors and students need each other to learn and thrive. They need each other for encouragement and strength in daily life. Family Mentors and students alike need a place of refuge and shelter in a world that is still trying so hard to squash the teachings of Jesus. They live their daily lives together. They abide. It's one of the best ways for discipleship.  

 

That's what Jesus invites us to do - live our daily life with Him. He shows us the way for life more abundant. Our day-to-day life is where we learn to abide, rest, dwell, cling to, stand with Jesus. 

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Question: Sometimes communal living stretches you beyond your limitations. How does abiding with Jesus help you overcome the mundane, daily part of cross-cultural living? 

Prayer Guide: This week borrow Bro. Lawrence's words from his time with kitchen tasks:

"Lord of all pots and pans and things... make me a saint by cook meals and washing up the plates." 

Challenge this week: Invite Jesus to abide with you in the middle of your mundane activities this week.

Songs of the week: Abide by The Worship Initiative

                               This Day by Audio Adrenaline 

Book Suggestion: "The Practice of the Presence of God" by Brother Lawrence

Quote by Brother Lawrence:

"That we ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, 

who regards not the greatness of the work, 

but the love with which it is performed."

from his book: The Practice of the Presence of God.