John 8:31-32 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; (32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Jesus is speaking to a particular group of people at this point: "those
Jews which believed on him." God had worked in their hearts and given them
the ability to receive the person and work of the Lord Jesus. They
seemingly rejoiced and found peace in the presence of the Lord and followed Him
as He went about doing the work of the Father. Now He gives the specific
instructions. "Continue in my word."
The word "continue" is the same word as Jesus used in John 15 when He
said, "abide in me and my words abide in you". He would also say,
"abide in my love." He is speaking of standing strong in Him, His
words, His love, His very being. He was telling them the things they observed,
heard, and rejoiced in were not just a temporary flash in the fire type of
event. Jesus is the eternal Son of God and His words abide forever. The Psalmist
had expressed this truth hundreds of years before Jesus walked the earth.
"The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me
understanding, and I shall live." (Psalm 119:144) The word of the
Lord has been tried, tested, and proven to be right and on which we can
confidently stand. We often sing the song, "Standing on the Promises of
God."
What is a disciple? Is it not someone who is a follower of another? There were
many people who walked after Jesus, but would not actually be characterized as
a disciple. There were those who followed Him while trying to find fault with
Him. There were those who followed Him simply because they went with the crowd.
There were those who followed Him thinking they would see some great thing
happen, almost as a form of entertainment. But thank God, there were those who
truly believed on Him and followed Him because they honored Him and held Him
high in their thoughts. A disciple is someone who follows, but he follows with
a full conviction and determination in that which the One they follow stands.
When you see an "if", there is usually a "then" that
follows. IF you continue, THEN you are my disciple. And IF you continue,
THEN you shall know the truth. And THEN the truth shall make you free.
Simply quoting scripture does not make me a disciple. Quite honestly, Satan can
quote Scripture. It is more than having a head knowledge of the Word of
God. Continuing in the Word of God, Standing on the Promises of God, and
remaining faithful to the Word of God qualifies us as followers of the Lord
Jesus. As we continue in the Word of God, we experience in our own lives the
fact that God's Word works. God's Word is effectual in the lives of believers.
Again as the old hymn states, "When we walk with the Lord in the light of
His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way. When we do His good will, He abides
with us still. And with all who will trust and obey."
My question to myself this morning is this: Am I a disciple of the Lord Jesus?
Do I continue in His Word? Do I trust and obey Him in all things? I want to do
just that.