photo credit: Heart and Soul Reflections

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:31-32)

Abide = Disciple of Christ.

Disciple – follower, believer, student. 

As followers of Christ, we are called to speak His words of life to those around us.  The only way that we can do this effectively is by spending time meditating on the Word of God.  He has so much to teach us.  As students of the Word, we must study to show ourselves approved.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.   (2 Timothy 2:15)

Abide = Knowing the truth.

Truth –  honesty, accuracy, correctness.

Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us to understand His Word, which dwells on the inside of us.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ 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)

Abiding in the Word of God opens our eyes to the will of God for our lives.  We are less likely to be pulled away by the deceitfulness of this world when we are abiding in His truth.

Abide = Set Free.

Set Free –  liberate, deliver, unchain.

Christ came to set the captives free. One of the ways that we remain free is to hide His Word in our hearts.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  (Psalm 119:11)

God desires to reveal His secrets to us.  As this truth is revealed, we tuck it away into the deep places of our heart.  This keeps our feet from falling and allows us to walk continually in the light of life.

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.  (Psalm 56:13)

Abiding in the Word of God means that we belong to Him.
Abiding in the Word of God reveals His truth to our heart.
Abiding in the Word of God sets us free from the bondage of sin.

*This is Day 5 of a 31 day series on “Abiding”. You can find all of my posts in this series here. And be sure to stop by some of the other 31Dayers. Over 700 bloggers have linked up so far! There is something for everyone!