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Abide in Christ
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South-African Reformed leader who became famous for writing devotionals, including Absolute Surrender, Abide in Christ and The Secret of the Cross. This version of Murray’s Abide in Christ includes a table of contents.
137 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1864
About the author
Andrew Murray
1,638 books577 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.
He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).
Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.
Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.
He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).
Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
March 2, 2023
Update: Still the best devotional I've ever read. 4th time through and still amazing.Read this book!!
This is a fascinating read. Set out in 31 short chapters you can easily use this as a devotional to accompany daily Scripture readings. Murray walks us through the abide passages (John 15, et al)and talks both theologically and practically about how that plays out in life. Answering such questions as "How can I abide in Christ all day when I have to go to work?" Murray speaks with passion and depth on a topic that will take a lifetime to master. But Murray is a capable guide. I have read and reread this book over the years and it is perennially valuable and insightful. I also appreciate his theological balance. Murray comes from a Calvinist perspective but you'll read a few things that seem to deviate from a strict determinist view as he navigates the very real mystery between God's sovereignty and our practical day to day relation to it. In this he is eminently practical and helpful. I thoroughly recommend it.
This is a fascinating read. Set out in 31 short chapters you can easily use this as a devotional to accompany daily Scripture readings. Murray walks us through the abide passages (John 15, et al)and talks both theologically and practically about how that plays out in life. Answering such questions as "How can I abide in Christ all day when I have to go to work?" Murray speaks with passion and depth on a topic that will take a lifetime to master. But Murray is a capable guide. I have read and reread this book over the years and it is perennially valuable and insightful. I also appreciate his theological balance. Murray comes from a Calvinist perspective but you'll read a few things that seem to deviate from a strict determinist view as he navigates the very real mystery between God's sovereignty and our practical day to day relation to it. In this he is eminently practical and helpful. I thoroughly recommend it.
March 7, 2018
Wow! This was absolutely amazing! Definitely encouraged me in so many ways, and I love Murray's writing style. It kept me engaged and interested at all times, and I liked the short sections that made for easy reading. This book is so deep, so the short sections were definitely necessary.
I would highly recommend this for any Christian wanting to grow closer to Christ!
I would highly recommend this for any Christian wanting to grow closer to Christ!
April 7, 2026
4 stars
A great devo.
A great devo.
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Derek Perkins
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Non-fiction
Length: 5h 55m
January 20, 2009
This book is so simple. "All that you can wish to know is perfectly clear to Him. He has access to the cousels of Diety, to the sectets of Providence, in your interest and on your behalf. If you will but trust Him fully, and abide in Him entirely, hyou can be confident of having unerring guidance." That's all I want really:)
April 3, 2023
For the ones that want to read this book you can downloaded here!
Abiding in Christ bring:
Peace ✓
Hope ✓
Love ✓
Joy ✓
Holiness ✓
Strength ✓
Blessings ✓
Faith ✓
Patience ✓
Victory ✓
Friendship ✓
In conclusion by remaining in Christ we can achieve in living a fulfilling and happy life, a purpose that all of us search all of our lives.
July 31, 2026
5+ stars (6/10 hearts). This devotional was recommended to me by a friend who knows my tastes and my struggles extremely well. I have rarely read devotionals, and I absolutely loved reading an 1895 one, even though it is pretty deep and takes a lot of focus. This book is broken in 31 short segments focussing on a different aspect or truth of “abiding in Christ.” It gave me so much to think about—so much encouragement and truth! I never realized some of the thing mentioned here and I think it truly changed my life. Definitely something I recommend and plan to read again.
A Favourite Quote: [Christians] scarce take the time or the trouble to realize that when He says “Abide IN ME,” He offers Himself, the Keeper of Israel that slumbers not nor sleeps, with all His power and love, as the living home of the soul where the mighty influences of His grace will be stronger to keep than all their feebleness to lead astray. The idea they have of grace is this, that their conversion and pardon are God's work, but that now, in gratitude to God, it is their work to live as Christians, and follow Jesus. There is always the thought of a work that has to be done, and even though they pray for help, still the work is theirs. They fail continually, and become hopeless; and the despondency only increases the helplessness. No, wandering one; as it was Jesus who drew thee when He spake “Come,” so it is Jesus who keeps thee when He says “Abide.” The grace to come and the grace to abide are alike from Him alone. [Emphasis mine]
A Favourite Quote: [Christians] scarce take the time or the trouble to realize that when He says “Abide IN ME,” He offers Himself, the Keeper of Israel that slumbers not nor sleeps, with all His power and love, as the living home of the soul where the mighty influences of His grace will be stronger to keep than all their feebleness to lead astray. The idea they have of grace is this, that their conversion and pardon are God's work, but that now, in gratitude to God, it is their work to live as Christians, and follow Jesus. There is always the thought of a work that has to be done, and even though they pray for help, still the work is theirs. They fail continually, and become hopeless; and the despondency only increases the helplessness. No, wandering one; as it was Jesus who drew thee when He spake “Come,” so it is Jesus who keeps thee when He says “Abide.” The grace to come and the grace to abide are alike from Him alone. [Emphasis mine]
January 1, 2009
I am currently readying this old book - from my husband's grandfather's library. I have read one of Andrew Murray's books before when my grandfather gave me one as a teenager. I am finding this old classic to be very thought -provoking and inspiring and reassuring as i continue on my spiritual journey.
the paragraphs are too long and the language is "old" but rich. each daily meditation is much too much for one day for me. i spend at least a week on each "day."
the paragraphs are too long and the language is "old" but rich. each daily meditation is much too much for one day for me. i spend at least a week on each "day."
April 6, 2026
Although this took me a while to get through, mainly for its wordy nature, I loved it! I have so many quotes written down that were insightful, encouraging, and helped me better understand what it means to abide in Christ.
“Let each day have its value from your calling to abide in Christ.”
“By His grace, the most commonplace life can be transfigured with the brightness of a heavenly beauty, as the infinite love of the divine nature shined out through our frail humanity.”
“Let each day have its value from your calling to abide in Christ.”
“By His grace, the most commonplace life can be transfigured with the brightness of a heavenly beauty, as the infinite love of the divine nature shined out through our frail humanity.”
May 8, 2024
Oswald Chambers (through his classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest) has often been the "kick in the pants" I've needed to keep me from being a lazy Christian. But when I feel fragile and need encouragement from a more sympathetic counselor, Andrew Murray is the one to whom I turn. His call to the holy life is just as strong as Chamber's, but his approach is decidedly more gentle and winsome.
This was a perfect bedside book with its 31 days of reading about how to grow as a Christian by simply abiding in the One who is able to transform us.
This was a perfect bedside book with its 31 days of reading about how to grow as a Christian by simply abiding in the One who is able to transform us.
January 9, 2018
This book is a treasure in plain binding. When I first received it, I hoped for a quick, hopefully decent devotional I could read during busy days. What I got was the best pastoring from a book I've ever experienced. These are the extended meditations of a truly humble pastor on Jesus' teaching from John 15 about abiding in Him--the teaching He had for His disciples right after He introduced the new covenant. The depth of the riches in such a short passage are almost shocking. It contains, I think, the whole heart of Christian living.
After one chapter in particular, I looked up from the book and said, "If I weren't saved already, I think I would've just gotten saved reading that chapter." I'm not sure any book but the Bible has been this beneficial to me.
After one chapter in particular, I looked up from the book and said, "If I weren't saved already, I think I would've just gotten saved reading that chapter." I'm not sure any book but the Bible has been this beneficial to me.
October 20, 2021
This was my first time through this devotional classic. Though there are some hints of Keswick deeper life teaching and the final chapter contains some over-realized eschatology, this is a beautifully-written, spiritually-insightful, biblically-rich book. Murray develops the themes of union and communion with Christ in great depth and in ways that stir the soul to long for more. He also draws from the Puritan Walter Marshall's classic work, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification. It is not a perfect book and I could wish that Murray had some said some things differently. But it is a good book and worth reading.
November 5, 2015
Abiding in Christ has always been a challenging notion for me. How do you actually live it, daily? Well this 31 day devotional from Murray goes a long way to being able to guide the reader on how to do it.
This is a meaty read as any one who knows Murray's work knows. However, it is so worth soaking in it. I'm certain I'll find new rich nuggets of wisdom each additional time I read it.
Each devotion is 4-5 pages long and is based on verse that can be associated with "abiding".
I've found it has changed aspects of my prayer life and I'm looking forward to reading it again and again.
This is a meaty read as any one who knows Murray's work knows. However, it is so worth soaking in it. I'm certain I'll find new rich nuggets of wisdom each additional time I read it.
Each devotion is 4-5 pages long and is based on verse that can be associated with "abiding".
I've found it has changed aspects of my prayer life and I'm looking forward to reading it again and again.
June 1, 2017
I really enjoy Murray's intimate knowledge of the Lord, and his warm and devitional encouragement. This book helped me bask in the warmth of the joy of the Lord.
October 24, 2022
Incredible. I had to put it down often and just be still.
March 3, 2025
This one never gets old. If you haven't read this one yet, I think this book is a must-read classic. :)
January 7, 2026
This devotional was given to me at the end of a season before I knew what was next. During a time of transition, mediating on John 15 was a sweet, sweet thing. I will recommend this to anyone who wants to understand more what it means for our whole entire life to be about communing with Jesus.
February 18, 2023
Took me 3ish months to finish this 31 day devotional because it was so rich I needed days to digest it. Highly recommend to anyone desiring to learn why/how to abide in Christ! Seriously changed my walk with God and how I view His character and commands
July 30, 2008
A book to definitely read slowly
Poignant Quotes:
Our doing and working are but the fruit of Christ's work in us.
You can trust Him to keep you trusting and abiding.
Live your daily life in the full consciousness of being righteous in God's sight, an object of delight and pleasure in Christ. Holy in God has reference to His inmost being; righteous, to His dealings with His creatures.
Apply this to the promise of the text: "He that establishes us in Christ is God." As you now, at this moment, abandon all anxiety about your growth and progress to the God who has undertaken to establish you in the Vine, and feel what a joy it is to know that God alone has charge, ask and trust Him by the Holy Spirit ever to remind you of this your blessed relation to Him. He will do it; and with each new morning your faith may grow stronger and brighter: I have a God to see that each day I become more firmly united to Christ.
Believer! When striving to find the way to abide in Christ from moment to moment, remember that the gateway is: Abide in Him at this present moment.
In the healthy exercise of giving and taking is all the enjoyment of life.
It is only into the thirst of an empty soul that the streams of living waters flow.
Believe that he will do His work with power, if only you do not hinder Him. Believe that He is working, even you cannot discern it.
Cultivate carefully the habit of daily, yea, continually honoring Him by the quiet, restful confidence that He is doing His work within.
Christian, pray for grace to see in every trouble, small or great, the Father's finger pointing to Jesus, and saying, Abide in Him.
It is only as long as salvation is to the sinner nothing by a personal safety, that he can be careless or afraid of the doing of God's will.
Be assured that there is still much of your Lord's will that you do not yet understand.
Disobedience dulls the conscience, darkens the soul, deadens our spiritual energies - therefore keep the commandments of Christ with implicit obedience. Be a soldier that asks nothing but the orders of the commander.
...there is nothing so attractive as joy, no preaching so persuasive as the sight of hearts made glad.
The Christian often tries to forget his weakness: God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply.
He does not, as so many believers imagine, take the feeble life He finds in them, and impart a little strength to aid them in their feeble efforts. No; it is in giving His own life in us that He gives us His power.
When the union with Christ is rejoiced in as our highest good, and everything sacrificed for the strength will be made perfect in our weakness.
Poignant Quotes:
Our doing and working are but the fruit of Christ's work in us.
You can trust Him to keep you trusting and abiding.
Live your daily life in the full consciousness of being righteous in God's sight, an object of delight and pleasure in Christ. Holy in God has reference to His inmost being; righteous, to His dealings with His creatures.
Apply this to the promise of the text: "He that establishes us in Christ is God." As you now, at this moment, abandon all anxiety about your growth and progress to the God who has undertaken to establish you in the Vine, and feel what a joy it is to know that God alone has charge, ask and trust Him by the Holy Spirit ever to remind you of this your blessed relation to Him. He will do it; and with each new morning your faith may grow stronger and brighter: I have a God to see that each day I become more firmly united to Christ.
Believer! When striving to find the way to abide in Christ from moment to moment, remember that the gateway is: Abide in Him at this present moment.
In the healthy exercise of giving and taking is all the enjoyment of life.
It is only into the thirst of an empty soul that the streams of living waters flow.
Believe that he will do His work with power, if only you do not hinder Him. Believe that He is working, even you cannot discern it.
Cultivate carefully the habit of daily, yea, continually honoring Him by the quiet, restful confidence that He is doing His work within.
Christian, pray for grace to see in every trouble, small or great, the Father's finger pointing to Jesus, and saying, Abide in Him.
It is only as long as salvation is to the sinner nothing by a personal safety, that he can be careless or afraid of the doing of God's will.
Be assured that there is still much of your Lord's will that you do not yet understand.
Disobedience dulls the conscience, darkens the soul, deadens our spiritual energies - therefore keep the commandments of Christ with implicit obedience. Be a soldier that asks nothing but the orders of the commander.
...there is nothing so attractive as joy, no preaching so persuasive as the sight of hearts made glad.
The Christian often tries to forget his weakness: God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply.
He does not, as so many believers imagine, take the feeble life He finds in them, and impart a little strength to aid them in their feeble efforts. No; it is in giving His own life in us that He gives us His power.
When the union with Christ is rejoiced in as our highest good, and everything sacrificed for the strength will be made perfect in our weakness.
April 20, 2018
I read this as I prepare to preach on John 15 in a couple weeks. I read it once before. Maybe 15 or 20 years ago? There are some really good thoughts on what the abiding life is like. Murray was a white South African evangelical from the 19th (and early 20th century). He died over a hundred years ago. His account of the abiding life is kind of timeless because he emphasizes the inward dimension of life in Christ. As such there isn't much illustrative material outside the text of scripture, and he talks a lot about resting, trusting in, relying on Jesus. But abiding is multifaceted and obedience and holy living are clearly part of it as well.
The big take away that struck me as I read this was how much the vine grower and the vine desire branches to be fruitful. It is the desire of the Gardener that the whole plant be fruitful. Murray also stresses, in the early chapters, the mutuality of abiding. The branch produces no fruit without the vine but neither does the vine produce fruit without the branches. In some mystical way, Jesus has bound his life to ours. Where we don't make Christ manifest, he will not be manifest. When we don't abide, the kingdom of God is not brought to fruition in our midst.
Also a reflection that came to me as I read this is how to understand the abundant fruitful life as a 'for others' sort of life. A grape vine doesn't produce fruit for itself. It is fruit to be enjoyed by others, or seed that falls to the ground to make a new plant, but the fruit itself doesn't nourish itself. Our post-industrial materialist age tends to cast our ideas of abundance into consumer terms but the text points elsewhere.
I didn't get all this from Murray, or maybe I did but sometimes tangently so. There are 31 daily enteries and they aren't all that exciting to read and sometimes preachy in tone (like most 19th century evangelical writing) that doesn't really connect with me.
The big take away that struck me as I read this was how much the vine grower and the vine desire branches to be fruitful. It is the desire of the Gardener that the whole plant be fruitful. Murray also stresses, in the early chapters, the mutuality of abiding. The branch produces no fruit without the vine but neither does the vine produce fruit without the branches. In some mystical way, Jesus has bound his life to ours. Where we don't make Christ manifest, he will not be manifest. When we don't abide, the kingdom of God is not brought to fruition in our midst.
Also a reflection that came to me as I read this is how to understand the abundant fruitful life as a 'for others' sort of life. A grape vine doesn't produce fruit for itself. It is fruit to be enjoyed by others, or seed that falls to the ground to make a new plant, but the fruit itself doesn't nourish itself. Our post-industrial materialist age tends to cast our ideas of abundance into consumer terms but the text points elsewhere.
I didn't get all this from Murray, or maybe I did but sometimes tangently so. There are 31 daily enteries and they aren't all that exciting to read and sometimes preachy in tone (like most 19th century evangelical writing) that doesn't really connect with me.
January 23, 2011
It took me a while to figure out the writing style and how to read this book, so it took me a while to get through it. It was a really good book though. I really like how the emphasis was not on works, but on the God-enable ability to abide in Christ. It really had some great nuggets in it about how all parts of our lives should grow out of that restful relationship of Christ and His bride. Great stuff!
January 6, 2018
This book / devotional had a substantial effect on my day-to-day life, and how I understood and engaged with promises of scripture (and abiding) that I had too often overlooked.
It takes a close and focused reading to fully grasp the concepts the author is explaining, so it took me longer than 31 days to finish. I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn more of what it looks like to abide in Christ.
It takes a close and focused reading to fully grasp the concepts the author is explaining, so it took me longer than 31 days to finish. I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn more of what it looks like to abide in Christ.
February 2, 2011
Excellent book! Filled with practical nuggets of truth! Andrew Murray has a wonderful way of taking God's word, breaking it down and making it applicable. I can barely make it through one page without being convicted, admonished and encouraged! A wonderful companion to my bible reading.
September 23, 2016
Three stars does not reflect the quality of this book but merely my connection to it. Murray says many very good things on the subject of abiding in Christ, but I just had difficultly getting into this book for some reason. Maybe it was a timing issue.
April 23, 2009
Great devotional classic
Currently Reading
July 5, 2010short chapters full of life-giving words that continually point me back dependence on God and His kindness and grace for me.
March 6, 2025
Excellent.
Read
September 23, 2022Keswick theology, so, no.
I appreciate the insistence on holiness, the unapologetic recognition of Jesus as Lord not just over all creation but over me and every aspect of my life.
But the belief in the gift of the Spirit and greater growth, the real start of sanctification, being some nebulous point further down the road, not simultaneous with sanctification? No.
Passages talking about sanctification in the life of the believer—as in every believer—were read as if they were for the special few: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Murray responds to that in wonder that Paul can so boldly say that, can so completely claim that oneness with Christ.
I do claim that. Not because I am anything other than an average sinning believer; because Jesus took my place and robed me in His righteousness, and He absolutely didn’t need anything beyond His blood to do that. The Holy Spirit reminds me daily of His word and His work on my behalf; this gift was nothing of my own doing, again, just a gift of inheritance planned before the beginning of time in the rich grace of my Heavenly Father.
This read followed “Becoming Elisabeth Elliot” (Vaughn) ((highly recommend)) and “The Next Thing” (Freeman) ((do not recommend)). Keswick theology was very influential on many solid Christians who lived devotedly for their Savior, including Amy Carmichael and, her spiritual child, Elisabeth Elliot. Proof again: God works in many ways, in spite of us and, remarkably, through us.
I appreciate the insistence on holiness, the unapologetic recognition of Jesus as Lord not just over all creation but over me and every aspect of my life.
But the belief in the gift of the Spirit and greater growth, the real start of sanctification, being some nebulous point further down the road, not simultaneous with sanctification? No.
Passages talking about sanctification in the life of the believer—as in every believer—were read as if they were for the special few: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Murray responds to that in wonder that Paul can so boldly say that, can so completely claim that oneness with Christ.
I do claim that. Not because I am anything other than an average sinning believer; because Jesus took my place and robed me in His righteousness, and He absolutely didn’t need anything beyond His blood to do that. The Holy Spirit reminds me daily of His word and His work on my behalf; this gift was nothing of my own doing, again, just a gift of inheritance planned before the beginning of time in the rich grace of my Heavenly Father.
This read followed “Becoming Elisabeth Elliot” (Vaughn) ((highly recommend)) and “The Next Thing” (Freeman) ((do not recommend)). Keswick theology was very influential on many solid Christians who lived devotedly for their Savior, including Amy Carmichael and, her spiritual child, Elisabeth Elliot. Proof again: God works in many ways, in spite of us and, remarkably, through us.
July 1, 2022
4.5/5
What an excellent book! Here's Murray's main call to action:
"Yes, Christian, in every possible circumstance, every moment of the day, the voice is calling: Abide in me, do it now. And even now, as you are reading this, O come at
once and enter upon the blessed life of always
abiding, by doing it at once: do it now." Abide in him!
What an excellent book! Here's Murray's main call to action:
"Yes, Christian, in every possible circumstance, every moment of the day, the voice is calling: Abide in me, do it now. And even now, as you are reading this, O come at
once and enter upon the blessed life of always
abiding, by doing it at once: do it now." Abide in him!
July 3, 2025
Going into a list of my favorites… so good
November 9, 2022
I've just recently been introduced to this author, and what a wealth of spiritual encouragement and exhortation he has to offer! I actually got a book that has a bunch of his smaller books under one cover, but I'm going to review them individually. This one was really profound. It's so easy to miss that the true crux of the Christian life is a deep and personal relationship with Christ, and everything else flows from there. This book is such an important reminder!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews