March 17
“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 word “abide” is the Greek word “meno” and means “to dwell”, “to remain.” We are to dwell and remain in God’s word. We are to be making His word our home and living there. We are told that the one who delights in God’s word and meditates on it day and night will be like one who is planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in its season and prospering in whatever he does (Psalm 1).
Jesus said to His disciples, and I believe it is true for us today as well, “If you abide in Me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7) What an incredible promise! God said to Joshua, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” God said through Isaiah, “But to this one will I look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:2b).
The Psalmist said, “How can a young man keep his way pure, by keeping it according to Thy word. With all my heart I have sought Thee, do not let me wander from Thy commandments. Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119:9-11) The apostle Paul said, “we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”
(Colossians 1:9-10). What might be the primary source of “the knowledge of His will” that precedes these amazing promises you may ask? The Bible, of course. And we could look at a number of other verses that promise incomprehensible blessings on those who spend time studying and knowing God’s word and obeying it.
Think about these amazing promises we have just reviewed that are dependent on our time in God’s word. In light of these, how could we not make time in God’s word the highest priority of our lives? Yet I know of no one that does, and I am ashamed to say that myself is included in this category. I frankly don’t get the sense from many of the pastors that I have known that they love to be in God’s word; perhaps it has become a chore to them or simply a job, and perhaps they have lost the love they once had in being in the Word.
In January, we spent about two weeks on the importance of being in the Word of God (see January 14-26), so I won’t repeat myself here. Please go back and review those exhortations to be in the Word on a daily basis. This is so important, and yet so difficult and so easy to put off. May God give each and every one of His children a great desire to drink deeply and continually in His word, to make time for Him and making study of His word a top priority in their lives. May this be true of each of us. May we abide in Christ by abiding in His word and enjoy the blessings and freedom He promises to those who do.