From J. C. Philpot's Daily Portions
November 5 "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he
will keep my words--and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him,
and make our abode with him." John 14:23 There are two grand vital points that every Christian
should seek to be established in. The first is--Is he a believer in Christ?
Has the blessed Spirit made Christ known to his soul? Has he embraced Jesus
in the arms of living faith? The second point which he should seek to have
established in his soul is--Does he abide in Christ? This he may know by
having some testimony that Christ abides in him, and produces the fruits
that flow out of this inward abiding. If Christ abides in him, his heart
will not be like the nether mill-stone. He cannot rush greedily into sin; he
will not love the world, and the things of time and sense; he cannot happily
love idols, or do those things which ungodly professors do without one check
or pang. Jesus in the soul is a guest that will make himself
known; yes, abiding there, he is King therein. He is Ruler in Zion, and when
he comes into the heart, he comes as King. Being, therefore, its rightful
Sovereign, he sways the faculties of the soul, and makes it obedient to his
scepter; for "your people shall be willing in the day of your power" (Psalm
110:3). "O Lord our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us;
but by thee only will we make mention of thy name." (Isaiah 26:13)