Remaining, Abiding, Staying (In memory of Codie – 2010-2023)

The judge begrudgingly told me, “I am sorry we cannot pass your dog.” Codie had failed the culminating test of the dog training class. A true golden retriever, she could not hold her STAY position for the required minutes, the urge to say hello to onlookers (and judges) becoming too much. While her compliant classmates, from a great dane to a dalmatian, to everything in between, maintained their DOWN positions to the point of drowsing, Codie had begun her army crawl. A guilty inch at first, a slight thump of the tail, and then oops, somehow she found herself out of the line-up. So at that point, why not just bolt and give the people what they wanted? Full-on kisses preferably on lips. Of the twelve participants, Codie placed last.

Staying, or abiding, as Jesus terms it, is a downfall for me as well. I am called to wait on the Lord, seek him always, pray without ceasing. Yet, I am prone to bolting. My patience wanes; my mouth has a mind of its own, and my focus turns inward.

Jesus tells us, “Abide in me and I in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, it is he who bears much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:45)

According to Ligonier Ministries, abiding in Christ means “allowing His Word to fill our minds, direct our wills, and transform our affections.” Jesus also says we are to abide in love. Ligonier expands on this, “This love has been proved to us in the cross of Christ. We must never allow ourselves to drift from daily contemplation of the cross as the irrefutable demonstration of that love, or from dependence on the Spirit who sheds it abroad in our hearts (Rom. 5:5). Furthermore, remaining in Christ’s love comes to very concrete expression: simple obedience rendered to Him is the fruit and evidence of love for Him (John 15:10–14).”

So knowing that Jesus loves us to the point of sacrificing himself on our behalf, let us remain, abide, and stay in this love posture. Let us greet one another with smiles, let us overlook and forgive and accept, and let us give thanks to God for dogs like Codie whose love knows no bounds.