31 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
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Freedom comes by abiding and abiding in the word of God. Truth is made known and we are made free. Where in the word are you abiding? You might say “I don’t know where to abide.” We know better than we think we do. Where are you drawn? Where are you reading right now?
Abiding in the word begins with reading the word, and then being drawn into the word because of interest, need or offense. There we begin to camp. Camping is abiding. It’s the practice of continuing in a place inside scripture or inside a truth in scripture. We may not get what is being said but we are drawn to being there.
It may be a Psalm, or miracle of Jesus, or story of a Patriarch like Abraham or Moses. It may be a subject like healing, prosperity or glory. Whether a subject, or person, or event inside the scriptures, there we set up residency. There we abide. Over time maybe a few days or months or even years, the scripture reveals the truth that was hidden to the casual observer. Truth makes us free.
Jesus makes us free. All scripture brings us to Him. All freedom is from Him. It was for freedom that the Son has made us free. We don’t have to make ourselves free; Jesus makes us free. All we need to do is see inside of abiding in the word, where truth is known. Freedom may come instantly. But more often, it comes gradually as we see over and over again the truth inside the word in which we are abiding.
Truth believed becomes the gospel of our salvation and the Holy Spirit seals us inside of Christ. Now, we find ourselves abiding in Jesus and His words abiding in us. Now, fruit comes where freedom has been established. The possibility of all the freedom and fruitfulness we may experience in Jesus, in His word, I believe is limitless.
We believe in Jesus. Let’s abide in His word.
