Are you a true disciple?

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31-32 ESV

‘If’ speaks of choice, Jesus presented a choice to the people who were convicted by his message. He allowed them to choose, this is what ‘if’ implies to the listener. Jesus didn’t coerce his listeners but simply spoke the truth in love resulting in truth cutting deep to the soul, as it should do each time it’s received by those living in a lie.

By ‘abiding’ we need to live in God’s word, that is to trust its instruction and guidance explicitly. You deal with your daily activities as you live in a home, the same for those who abide in the word. It must become our foundation for life. Whether wisdom for a challenging decision, hope for a broken time or instruction to walk holy before God. Friends this is our oxygen as Christians, it discriminates us from others. It’s not only outward obedience, but the endurance in, and obedience of faith to God’s word.

R.V.G. Tasker (Professor of New Testament Exegesis, University of London) described what it means to abide in God’s word: “Welcoming it, being at home with it, and living with it so continuously that it becomes part of the believer’s life, a permanent influence and stimulus in every fresh advance in goodness and holiness.” (Tasker)

Unknown freedom

It is tragic that not every Christian experiences this freedom. This normally sprouts from an “indulged mind” and not a “sober mind”. This is where many fall, become stagnant or regress to the drinking well of “the cares of this life and lies of riches” (Mark 4:19). Don’t become a tragedy, become free by the truth of God’s word.

With God, there is always a obey and receive attitude. If you obey I will heal your land (2 Chronicles 7:14) as here we see that “if you abide…” you WILL. So we now know that our faithful God who can’t lie (Titus 1:2) has promised us freedom in the truth. By faithful obedience to God’s word and staying in its ecosystem we are “set free”. By abiding in His word we are true disciples because we are set free from the effect and confusion of lies to living holy before God.

The stark question

So the stark question is does the word of God have a place in your heart and life?

37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham, yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. – John 8:37 ESV

If so, grab your knife and fork and get stuck into God’s holy word. At times you can be unsure how, I implore you to be bold to start reading ‘The Gospels’, be confident in your loving Father in heaven who has open arms for those who want to understand and know him (Jeremiah 9:24). Live out this truth in scripture and be sure that you are a true disciple by abiding in God’s great word.

If not, there is grace and hope, let this prayer below be the start of your journey to press in deeper into God’s word and make a home in it.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your truth
I have not taken it seriously or been committed to it
Forgive me for not making it the source of my life
I ask your Holy Spirit to relight a fire to enjoy your word
Give me a hunger and thirst for your word
I want to be a true disciple, I want to abide in your word
I thank you for answering my prayer, which I will continue to pray
In your precious name, in Jesus’ name
Amen