The Space Makers
When Christ abides in us, He creates space for others to bloom in His light.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com
In today’s reading, E. Stanley Jones continues his reflections on the importance of mutual abiding: us in Christ and Christ in us. He emphasizes that abiding is not a one-way experience—it's a shared indwelling where life becomes truly fruitful. We draw all we need from Christ as we abide in Him, and He expresses His life through us as He abides in us. It’s not passivity, nor is it self-effort—it’s a divine union where His life flows naturally through ours.
Jones then introduces the idea of “space makers”—those who, through their presence, create room for others to grow. Jesus, he says, is the ultimate space maker. He didn’t smother or overshadow others like a domineering oak tree that blocks out the sun; instead, He drew out beauty and potential in people, even in those society dismissed. He made room in His heart for the blind, the beggars, the Gentiles, and the forgotten. Wherever Jesus moved, the crushed found space to breathe again, to hope again, and to become more than they ever thought possible.
This reflection invites us to consider whether the abiding life of Christ within us is making room for others too. Are we light-givers and room-makers, or are we shadow-casters and space-deniers? When Christ is fully expressing His life through us, others aren’t stifled—they are unveiled.
Journal Reflection — In the Voice of the Holy Spirit
You have drawn near, and I have drawn nearer still. You have made your home in Me, and I in you, not as a guest but as One who now lives His life in you. Our fellowship is not lopsided—it is mutual, complete, and fruitful. You abide by trust, and I abide by expression. You rest in My sufficiency, and I pour forth My sufficiency through your daily moments.
As you live from Me, I become a space maker through you. I am not One who overshadows but One who unveils. I do not stifle; I call forth. I make room within you for the weary, the overlooked, the forgotten. My light reveals the beauty in the ones who hide in shame, and My touch awakens dignity in those crushed by the world.
Do you see how I turned the blind beggar’s cries into a moment of glory? While others saw a nuisance, I saw a man made for vision. I heard the silence of the leper, the cry of the outcast, and I stepped into their space not to dominate, but to draw them into fullness. So too in you—I make room, not only for you to breathe freely in My love, but for others to do the same in your presence.
As I am in you, I draw out the hidden potential in those around you. Not by your charisma, but by My grace. Not by pressure, but by presence. Not by correction, but by compassion. I unveil the glory of the new creation, one heart at a time. Let Me continue. You need not try—just abide.
Scripture References: John 15:4–5, Galatians 2:20, Luke 2:32, Mark 10:49, Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 3:18
Prayer of Trust
Lord Jesus, I trust You to live Your life through me today in such a way that others breathe easier, see clearer, and stand taller. You are the Light within me, and where Your light shines, people awaken to who they were meant to be. I know You are not calling me to outshine others but to carry Your presence in a way that creates space for growth. Thank You for the privilege of being Your vessel—not to dominate or direct, but to delight in the unveiling of others through You. As I abide in You, I know that You abide in me—and that this mutual abiding is more than enough.
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Caption: When Christ abides in us, He creates space for others to bloom in His light.