Abide With Me

By Clifton Angel   “Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide, The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!”     In 1847, Henry F. Lyte's poetic words were published in this beautiful song. Singers of these words plead with God to abide in their presence every day and in every way. What if God wrote a song to us, pleading us to abide with Him? What would He say? He did, essentially, at the test of Psalm 15. David asked, "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" (Psalm 15:1). By God’s divine revelation, David penned these characteristics: 1. One who walks uprightly (2a). 2. One who works righteousness (2b). 3. One who speaks truthfully (2c). 4. One who does not waste the reputation of another behind his back (3a). 5. One who does not do evil to his neighbor (3b). 6. One who has no reason to be ashamed in the presence of a neighbor (3c). 7. One who despises the evil actions of men (4a). 8. One who honors God-fearing men (4b). 9. One who keeps his word, even if it hurts (4c). 10.One who does not exact interest on gifts/loans (5a). 11.One who does not take a bribe against the innocent (5b).     What a list! In essence, God pleads with us, "Abide with Me," by showing us the type of person who can abide with Him through His Word. Truthfully, none of us are worthy to abide in God's presence; however, His Son Jesus has made it possible for us to change (Acts 2:38; 17:30; 2 Corinthians 7:10), obey (Hebrews 5:8–9; Acts 2:38; 8:36–38; 22:16), be changed (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3–4; Acts 2:47), and abide (Romans 6:4; Galatians 6:9–10; 1 John 1:7). Will you abide with Him?

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/