GOD’S WORD FOR APRIL 17 ~ ~ Philippians 3:12b ~ ~ “I am apprehended of Christ.”
Continuing from yesterday’s study in Andrew Murray’s classic book, “Abide in Christ.”
And then let the second thought enter your heart: unto this “I am apprehended of Christ.” His almighty power has laid hold on me and offers now to lift me up to where He would have me.
Fix your eyes on Christ. Gaze on the love that beams in those eyes and that asks whether you cannot trust Him, who sought and found and brought you near, now to keep you.
Gaze on the arm of power, and say whether you have reason to be assured that He is indeed able to keep you abiding in Him.
My dear fellow believer, go, take time alone with Jesus, and say this to Him. I dare not speak to you without abiding in Him for the mere sake of calling forth a pleasing religious sentiment. God’s truth must at once be acted on. Oh, yield yourself this very day to the blessed Savior in the surrender of the one thing He asks of you: give up yourself to abide in Him.
He Himself will work it in you. You can trust Him to keep you trusting and living (abiding) in Him.
And if doubts ever rise again, or the bitter experience of failure tempt you to despair, just remember where Paul found His strength:
“I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” In that assurance you have a fountain of strength. From that you can look up to that for which He has set His heart, and set yours there too.
From that you gather confidence that the good work He has begun He will also finish. In that confidence you will gather courage, day by day, afresh to say, “I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I also am apprehended of Christ Jesus.’ It is because Jesus has taken hold of me, and because Jesus keeps me, that I dare to say: Savior, I abide in You.”