Abide in My Word...

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

In the context of this passage Jesus is speaking to the brand new believer instructing them to continue in their belief by abiding in His word.

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9, ESV)

Perseverance in obedience to Scripture is the fruit or evidence of genuine faith.  A true believer holds fast, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teaching. To walk in the freedom and liberty of Christ is to walk habitually abiding in His word.

At the time of conversion we are set free from the law of sin and death.  We walk in newness of life by His Spirit of Truth who dwells in us and directs our path as we surrender to His leading.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."—Romans 8:2;15

I asked myself what  the reality of that spiritual principle looks like in my own life.  How does abiding in the truth of God’s word set me free?

It sets me free from the tyranny of me...from my sin, my selfishness.  It releases me from the lies that abound in this world and the deceit of my past. It enables me to escape from wrong thinking and the baggage of my past.  The word helps me to do as it says in Hebrews 12:1—to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares me and run with endurance the race that is set before me.

Psalm 119 begins with these words:

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the LORD!

There are countless ways that I can pervert my path during the course of even just one day.  Abiding sets me back on right paths. It realigns my thinking...it “re-minds” me. Abiding is how my God ministers to my heart.  It is where I meet Him and enter His Presence.  It is where I find forgiveness, wisdom, comfort, grace and help.  It is how I grow spiritually.  It is how my countenance is lifted and the means by which I am transformed into His image.   Abiding is where my fruit is found.