Abide with me

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  – John 15.4-5

During the opening of the London Olympics in the summer of 2012 there was a tribute paid to the victims of the 7/7 attack on the London subways.  Emeli Sande performed an amazing rendition of the great old hymn ‘Abide With Me.’ From what I understand American viewers missed it because NBC decided not to show it.

I don’t know anything about Emeli Sande and I didn’t like the modern dance that accompanied the song, but my heart was stirred as I was reminded of the marvellous words penned by Henry Lyte almost 200 years ago.

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, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.

What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;

ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;

shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

I thought about these words and this song as I came across this passage. Jesus challenged the disciples to abide in Him and let Him abide with them. This song is a simple description of dependence on Jesus’ abiding power.

Jesus closed this little instruction with ‘without me you can do nothing.’

I think it is obvious to all of us that unless we have His deep abiding we are hopeless and helpless. We can do nothing about anything without Him.

But we have Him. Let us start this day and every day with a new commitment to abide in Jesus and Jesus alone.

I am going to close with these words from the song above. I think it speaks well to our day.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me.