This month’s words study is on the word ‘Abide’. I really, really enjoy doing these word studies and I look forward to them!
The Hebrew word for abide is yashab (יָשַׁב) which means “to sit, remain, dwell” (here). It is translated in the old testament as abide, sits enthroned, settled, and wait among other things. It portrays a patient and deep sort of waiting and dwelling. The fact that is often translated as to sit shows the permanence of the dwelling. When you visit someone’s house until you sit down you are really just touring the house. When you lay down and sleep in a house it adds another level of abiding in that house, in fact, it makes the house your abode. When Jesus ascended to heaven, he truly remained there or abide there when he sat down on his throne. He abides as King. He will remain.
The Greek word, menó (μένω) is similar, meaning the same sort of remaining and dwelling. However, it more often translates into waiting or staying than the Hebrew. It is also translated as lasting, enduring, living, or to await.
“equivalent to not to depart, not to leave, to continue to be present: to maintain unbroken fellowship with one, adhere to his party, to be constantly present to help one, of the Holy Spirit, to put forth constant influence upon one, of the Holy Spirit,” (see here)“
“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” -1 John 2:28 (NASB)
“Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable………
Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;” -Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB)
When we abide in Christ we receive strength and joy.
Unless we abide in Christ, we can do nothing fruitful.
And all the branch possesses belongs to the vine. The branch does not exist for itself, but to bear fruit that can proclaim the excellence of the vine: it has no reason of existence except to be of service to the vine. Glorious image of the calling of the believer, and the entireness of his consecration to the service of his Lord.”
― Abide in Christ
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5 (NASB)
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.” -Ephesians 3:17-19 (NASB)
“Oh, that you would come and begin simply to listen to His Word and to ask only the one question: Does He really mean that I should abide in Him? The answer His Word gives is so simple and so sure: By His almighty grace you now are in Him; that same almighty grace will indeed enable you to abide in Him. By faith you became partakers of the initial grace; by that same faith you can enjoy the continuous grace of abiding in Him” –Abide in Christ: The Joy of Being in God’s Presence
We are seeking the things from above. We must in patience rest in God, producing through his working, the fruit of the spirit. We cannot produce this fruit without abiding in the vine. Someday, God will bring us to truly abide with him, to dwell with him, and worship him, in heaven.
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” – Colossians 3:1-4 (NASB)
“My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” – Ezekiel 37:27 (NASB)
Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day!
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”
– John 14: 16-17 (NASB)
*All Scripture quotations are from the NASB translation
Faith on the Farm 