THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TRUTH
John 8:31-32 NKJV
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.”
I am constantly amazed by God’s Word. It is such an alive book. Each time you read, know that God’s Word has the capacity to reveal something that you either didn’t know or something that you can see in a whole new light. This is why I never get tired of reading the scriptures. They are never boring to me.
Now there are times when I read the scriptures and don’t seem to get much. When that happens, I will often go back and read the same passage again and slow down my reading. The Bible is a book that we ought not to read fast. Don’t read it as you would a textbook. Read it with expectation, knowing that it is feeding and nourishing your inner man. It is the book of life.
Today’s verses are often quoted. Well, often quoted in part. Many times, I have heard others say the truth will set you free. But that is not the whole story. Jesus, speaking to the Jews who believed in Him, gave a couple of conditions to knowing the truth. The first was a condition of being His disciple. There were many people who followed Jesus, not just the twelve. We know Jesus sent seventy out to carry His message to Israel. So there were many people around Jesus and the twelve apostles. Jesus once asked a rhetorical question: “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Matthew 6:46. Jesus then went on to teach about the wise man who heard His word and acted on it versus the foolish man who heard but did not act. We know this passage as building your house on sand or on the rock. Jesus’ point was that hearing and not doing was a nonproductive endeavor. That to call Him Lord but not do what He says was not being a true disciple.
Taking that teaching, combining it with our verses for today, we see the truth about the truth. Those who abide in the words of Jesus, God’s Word, are the true disciples. The disciples of Jesus are those who hear and do what He says. A disciple, a follower of Jesus, is one who hears His word and puts it into practice in his life. These are the ones who know the truth, and the truth will make them free. In the book of James, he clearly states that it’s not the ones who hear the word who are blessed, but the one who hears God’s Word and acts accordingly. This is what Jesus was talking about when He says, “if you abide in My word.” Not only reading and memorizing and talking about God’s Word but making it a part of your life by acting on it.
We all know people who have been in church for years. And we are talking good churches that emphasize the Bible and Biblical teachings. And yet we don’t witness much freedom in their lives. I have heard people blame the pastor for not doing a good job. Even though I have a strong bias against that accusation, it’s not the pastor’s fault. Freedom comes when we act on God’s Word, not by simply hearing.
I could use more freedom in my life, as I am sure most of us could. And freedom is available. With a heart to be a true disciple and follower of Jesus and a commitment to put His words into practice, we will know the truth. And the truth we know will make us free.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for the freedom You have made available to me. You have given Your Word and the Holy Spirit to help me put that Word into practice. I believe I will walk in more freedom this year. And each year with You, I can become freer and freer.