Three key words for Christian living are: Presence, People and Purpose. Fruitful Christian living comes from abiding in God’s presence, loving others as God loves us, and living according to His purpose.
Presence
In Psalm 16, David describes his eternal relationship with God. In verse 10, he prophesies the resurrection of the coming Messiah. In verse 11, he declares, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”
Psalm 16 (NKJV)
7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
In John 15, Jesus teaches about the importance of abiding in His presence, and praying in accordance with His words.
John 15 (NKJV)
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 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.
5 “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. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
People
Abiding in the Lord’s presence enables us to love others as He loves us.
1 John 4 (NKJV)
Knowing God Through Love
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
In Romans 5:5, Paul writes, “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” We then pour out His love to others by obeying His words in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
Romans 5 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Purpose
When we abide in God’s presence and walk in His love, He reveals His purpose through our lives, and makes all things work together for good.
Romans 8 (NKJV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Jesus declared that believers are the light of the world, and urged us to let our light shine for the glory of God. We do this by living in the center of His purpose.
Matthew 5 (NKJV)
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus taught us to pray for God’s kingdom to come and for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. “On earth” means in this world and in our own lives.
Matthew 6 (New Matthew Bible)
9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus gives the key to purposeful and fruitful living for the glory of God. May we take His words to heart.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
David Krause, dhkrause2@gmail.com, https://compellinglove.net/
Compelling Love 
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