That’s what I’ve been thinking about. Do We Dwell? Do I Dwell? Do I stop, take a breath? Do I think in the moment, or am I constantly thinking in the next moment (more likely)? What to do next, or what to do after? What to say next, or what to say after? Would it be so bad to just stop, in each minute of each day, and think only about what I’m doing at the moment, what I’m hearing at the moment, who I’m talking to in the moment, what I’m praying in the moment, what I’m reading in the moment? Do I Dwell?
No, I usually don’t, and maybe I’m not alone. I’m a next-thing person. I don’t often sit in the moment because my mind has moved moments beyond as each moment goes by. But, that’s all wrong. That’s not how we were wired to be. You see we’re (I am) all products of our environments. That’s right. We were all born in the environment of sin, no getting around it. And for me, flitting around either in my mind or physically, like a bird in a glass house, is sin. The Lord and I are working on this…
Our very best example of dwelling is Jesus. When I think of Jesus, His ministry, His actions, His Words, I don’t ever get the sense that He was hurried, rushed, frantic, a flitter-abouter. Not once do I get the sense from His character, His nature, His Words, even what I imagine His physical walk on this earth from place to place, that He’s not in the moment. And just think about the impact He had on people.
Of course, He knew what His mission was, to prepare, restore, and redeem, in amazing and unspeakable ways, and I’m sure those things, those responsibilities weighed on His mind heavily, remember, the blood-sweat? But, not ever do I think that as he was giving sight to the blind, that He was, in that moment, thinking about making the lame walk, or expelling demons, or feeding the hungry, or any of the miraculous, amazing, people-connecting things He did while He walked this earth. When he was giving sight to the blind, He was giving sight to the blind.
We’re often told to live for the moment and I believe Jesus did. For each person, for each conversation, for each situation, for each need, for each touch, for each healing, for each encounter, for each opportunity, for each redemption, He was fully present in each moment. I want to be like Jesus.
Well, you say, that’s not possible, He was Jesus, He was perfect. And, of course, you’re right, He is Jesus and He is perfect, but aren’t we to be like Him? We’re made in His image and the Word says we are continually being made Holy as He is Holy. But the main reason Jesus was able to live in the moment (in my very humble opinion), is because of His focus. He clearly had a million things on His mind, He knew what was going to happen, He had a ton of work to do in just 3 short years, quite literally, the weight of the world.
Jesus was able to live in the moment because of His focus on His Father. He was able to zero in on every person, every situation, every conversation, every need, every touch, every redemption, because He knew that all He did was Kingdom building. Each step, each person, each Word, each action came from the Father.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:4-5
Abide, to be, to live, remain, dwell, stay, remain, wait, to tarry as a guest, to lodge. Jesus dwelt with His Father. And no one will argue that Jesus bore much fruit. The only way to bear fruit is to live for the moment.
Now, I’m sure you’re going how do I do that (me too), I work, I have kids, I have responsibilities, I, I, I, I, I…Jesus did too. Ministry wasn’t his side gig, it was His gig. It was His life, not a side-hustle, and that’s how we treat our relationship with Him sometimes. Something on the side.
Jesus was able to go about His work, attend family functions, visit friends, go to parties, weddings and the like, and still live for every moment as if each moment mattered, because it did, because it mattered to His Father.
His focus was on His Father and His everyday life revolved around that. Unfortunately, we sometimes get it backwards and try to fit Jesus into our life instead of allowing Him to dwell in our lives. You see, if our focus is on our Father, the franticness, the frenetic pace, the moment-hopping will diminish significantly because He will be producing fruit in our lives by refocusing our minds on what’s most important – each moment.
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other will ever know.