Abide in the Word

The Characteristics of a Disciple:
Attribute #1: Abide in the Word

Do you like where you live? Now, don’t fall into the trap that we so often do and immediately think on a physical level! I am not talking about the house you live in or whether you like the neighborhood or community where you reside. I am talking about your spiritual walk! Do you like where you live?

One of the clear characteristics of a disciple of Jesus is that they abide in His word. Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). The first part of this statement by Jesus is really just common sense, isn’t it? How could you be a disciple (student, learner, follower) of Jesus if you are not willing to follow His teachings or use His word as the foundation for your life? “Abiding” or “living” in His word means we make it a part of our everyday living. It becomes the guide we use to navigate through the challenges of this life!

The context of these verses in John 8 is about the very trap we tend to fall into with religion. As people came to believe in Jesus (V. 30), He wanted them to see the constant seeking, learning and growing that needed to be part of their development. He was calling them away from becoming stagnate, thinking they had arrived because they were of the right bloodlines. They saw themselves as right with God and ultimately free because they were “children of Abraham” (V. 33, 39) however, Jesus challenges them to “do the deeds of Abraham”! You see, Abraham would recognize Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God because Abraham walked with God throughout his life. He was constantly growing in spiritual maturity and even in a land where he was a stranger, he was never enslaved! The Israelites, in contrast, had a long history of being enslaved by almost every nation who came down the road because they would stop listening to the word of God and would allow their lusts and the distractions of the nations around them to lead them astray.

The point is this: Too many Christians are not enjoying the fullness of life God wants us to experience because we are not abiding (living, dwelling) in His word. We become enslaved by addictions, dysfunction and bad habits that are not in line with the nature and will of God and then get angry at God when we are conquered and live in oppressive situations. If He was in control and truly loved us, wouldn’t He fix things and help me clean up my mess? (This is what the Israelites of Jesus’ time were waiting for!) But it is THE TRUTH that makes us free, not the MAGIC GENIE IN THE SKY who wants to follow after us and fix every bad thing we get into! We would be free and able to live lives of contentment, joy, peace and hope if we let His word be where we dwelled!

What does “FREE” look like? How about a marriage where you don’t have to worry about contracting an infectious disease or threaten one another with the D-Word (divorce) because you make your decisions based upon His Word on what marriage should look like and how it should function? Could it be that freedom is not having to worry about what you said or did in your past because you have lived as a true disciple of Jesus? How about the ability to not only overcome the addictions and dysfunction in your life, but also to then use what you have learned from those things to bless the lives of others who are struggling and looking for answers?
So, do you like where you live? If not, try moving into the neighborhood of God’s Word and see if your living conditions don’t improve.

-Scott