In John 8:31-32 Jesus utters one of His most memorable statements ever, a statement of utter truth: “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” For me personally the key words in this text are the opening words:If you continue. It is easy for any of us to have moments of inspiration, moments when we promise, promise, and promise God that we will be faithful. But hanging in there, relying on His more than sufficient grace, continuing on with the Lord — well that is another thing altogether. There is an old saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. We intend to continue on with the Lord, we intend to continue being faithful, we intend to continue in prayer and to continue in His Word, but we don’t continue. We sin. We stuff God in a box, slide that box under the bed, and take a siesta from God.
Jesus knew all too well that we don’t continue in Him and with Him. We leave Him. We discontinue our affiliations with Him. We just close off our minds and hearts and walk away. Jesus tells us that when we do this we fail to be His disciples. We have nothing to do with the truth. We lock ourselves in the prison of selfish aggrandizement. Paul says it best: “You are a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” 1 Corinthians 13:1.
Today join me in pryer that we will all continue in God’s word, truly be His disciple, and know Him, the truth that will set us free.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” 1 Peter 2:21.
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” Matthew 16:24.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27.
“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him” 1 John 2:3-4.
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