Abide.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” 

(John 15:5).

ABIDE.  A week has passed since surgery on my left ankle. Praise the Lord it went well! As I reflect one week, one word comes to mind, abide. Abide was critical for a successful recovery and it is critical to live the Christian life.

WIRED.  Last week, as I counted, at least eight things I had to abide in for recovery.  First, as seen in the photo, an IV; it was the first thing that went into my body and the last thing to come out of it. It supplied me with everything from pain medication to antibiotics.  Second, an ice water boot was placed on my foot to keep the swelling down. Third, a oxygen monitor was placed on my finger to ensure there was enough oxygen in my blood. Fourth, a catheter to relieve me of nature’s liquids. Fifth and sixth, two drains that caught the blood/fluid from the wound area in my ankle and from the bone graph from my pelvis. Seventh, an oxygen line was inserted into my nose to keep my oxygen level satisfactory.  Eighth, a heart monitor, consisting of six pads was affixed to my chest, to monitor my heart rate.  All of this stuff reminded me of an astronaut preparing for a rocket trip to the moon.

Thankfully, as I made progress in my recovery during the week, each piece of equipment was removed.  Finally, on Sunday when I was ready to come home, the IV came out. There were times when I did not want to be wired to all of this stuff, especially the oxygen in the nose. A couple of times I took it out to give my nose a rest, but a nurse's aid kindly reminded me to get it back in.

APPLICATION.

Do I really make it a focus each day to abide in Christ? I needed to abide in everything I was connected to for successful recovery. I am dependent on abiding in Christ not only to live for His glory, but to bear spiritual fruit. Apart from Him I can do nothing. I am reminded of Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Apart from Him, I can do nothing.

Even for life I am dependent on God. “And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25).