Intimate Fellowship
Union with Himself, and so with the Father, is Christ’s highest object. Fix your eye on this, and gaze until it stands out before you clear and unmistakable: Christ’s aim is to have me abide in Him.
And then let the second thought enter your heart: For 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.
And as you think of the spot to which He points—the blessed purpose for which He apprehended you—and keep your gaze fixed on Him, holding you and waiting to lift you up, take the upward step, and rise to enter upon this blessed life of abiding in Christ. Begin at once, and say, “Oh my Jesus, if You bid me, and if You undertake to lift and keep me there, I will venture. Trembling, but trusting, I will say: ‘Jesus, I do abide in You.'”
Go and take time alone with Jesus, and say this to Him. I dare not speak to you about abiding in Him for the mere sake of calling forth a pleasing religious sentiment. God’s truth must at once be acted on.
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 will work it in you. You can trust Him to keep you trusting and abiding.
And if ever doubts again arise, or the bitter experience of failure tempts you to despair, just remember where Paul found His strength: “I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12, KJV). In that assurance you have a fountain of strength.
From that you can look up to that on 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 perform. And in that confidence you will gather courage afresh, day by day, to say, “I follow on, that I may also apprehend that for which Christ Jesus apprehended me. It is because Jesus has taken hold of me, and because Jesus keeps me, that I dare to say: ‘Savior, I abide in Thee.'”
Andrew Murray
By David E. Fessenden
ANDREW MURRAY (1828-1917) was raised in what was then considered one of the most remote corners of the world—Graaff-Reinet (near the Cape), South Africa. At the age of 9, he was sent with his elder brother to Aberdeen, Scotland, to receive a formal education. In 1845 both received their master’s degrees from Aberdeen University and went on to Utrecht University in Holland to pursue their theological training.
After three years of study in Holland, Murray returned to South Africa as a minister and missionary. And in 1860 he accepted a call to Cape Colony, where he began the writing of his many devotional books. In his 88 years he wrote more than 240 books and tracts, including classics such as Humility, The Secret of Intercession and Abide in Christ, which have been read by millions and continue to transform lives today.
Murray spent much time in itinerant evangelism. He laid great emphasis on a theme to which many of his books are devoted—the “deeper Christian life.” He defined this as God’s desire and commitment to reveal Himself more fully to those who would seek Him. The last 12 years of Murray’s life were devoted to speaking at conventions and evangelistic meetings around the world.
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