Find True Peace & Love with Us (15)

Jesus said, “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” (John 15:4).

Jesus gave these earnest instructions to His disciples shortly before He died on the cross. Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knelt and prayed, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” The Bible records that Jesus was deeply troubled and prayed even more earnestly, His sweat becoming like drops of blood falling to the ground.

But after finishing His prayer, He found His disciples asleep. He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Luke 22:39-46).

When reading this passage, I always wondered how the disciples could sleep while their Teacher was praying so painfully nearby. They were only a stone’s throw apart; why were they so distant in such a critical moment? Had Jesus’ repeated teachings and reminders in the previous days been ignored?

Yet, this is the reality we face today. Just like the disciples, we also often fail to truly keep God in our hearts, despite experiencing His grace and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

God’s Spirit fills all things, and He promises to always be with us. Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17 NKJV).

We often pray, “Lord, please be with me!” But the real question is, are we truly remaining with God? If we abide in Him, He will abide in us; if we remain with Him, He will remain with us!

Imagine a man coming home after work. His wife is busy tidying up the house, but he sits on the sofa watching an NBA game, browsing magazines, and playing music on his smart speaker. The wife has important things to discuss, including their child’s school issues and church matters. She sits down to talk, but the husband keeps his eyes on the screen, barely responding, distracted by food, drinks, and the intense basketball game. Eventually, frustrated, the wife loudly asks, “Are you even listening? You’re physically here, but is your heart here?”

Our relationship with God can be similar. We claim to believe in God, but are we truly present with Him? Often, our thoughts are elsewhere, focused on our own desires rather than humbly seeking His guidance.

Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).

Is God with me? Will He answer my prayers? The answer lies in this question: Am I truly abiding in God? He has given us His Spirit to dwell with us, so let us also sincerely remain with Him. Let’s encourage each other in this.

Let us build our families on the Word of God, making our homes a place where faith thrives and Christ’s love reigns. Come and learn more about the Doctrine through bible study, sermons and fellowship. We warmly invite you to our upcoming Spring 2025 Evangelical Service and Spiritual Convocation (ESSC) to discover how we can ensure a lasting spiritual legacy. Come, bring your family, and let’s run this race together in faith!

You can also join us for the Spring 2025 ESSC via online streaming.  

Thursday, April 17, 2025 6:50PM to 8:10PM
Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, 2025 9:00AM to 8:10PM
Sunday, April 20, 2025 9:00AM to 1:00PM

Please find our church location below:

True Jesus Church

4N550 Church Road
Bensenville, IL 60106
 Google Maps

In the meantime, please feel free to join us for our regular Sabbath (Friday evening and Saturday) services online or in-person.

Friday Evening Service:  7:50PM – 9:00PM

Saturday Morning Service:  10:50AM – 12:00Noon

Saturday Afternoon Service:  1:30PM – 2:40PM

Email us at ilovejesus@tjc-chicago.org