Abiding in Christ - Know the Truth

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; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Continuing in the study of what Abiding in Christ means, we come to the understanding that abiding in Christ means that a person walks and is in fellowship with Him. We already noted the words of the prophet Amos - "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" If we are in fellowship with God, we are walking with Christ in an intimate and continual way. Our verse at the start of this musing speaks that we ought to walk in a state of freedom by the knowledge of the Word.

To often believers take lightly the time spent reading the Bible. There are two things we need to do each and every day - Read our Bibles and Pray. I have many books in my library that I have read. Each one was important to me as I read it. However, most of these books I read once and shelved for future reference in ministry. Very few books have I read more than one time in their entirety. Having read them, I gleaned the information that I needed, and will go back if I need to refresh or annotate the information.

That is not so with the Bible. God tells us in Joshua 1:8 (NLT) - "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." Notice God says continually. Not once, twice or even a few times - He says continually. And then to stress it again, He says day and night we are to be meditating on what we have read. I think He is trying to make us understand the importance of reading His word. 

You see, as Jesus said in our verse and in John 17:17 (HCSB) - "Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." If we as believers are to abide in Christ, to dwell in Him continually, then we must know how to live this way. And the way to know the truth of abiding in Christ is found only in God's Word. There are many good professors, instructors, commentators, writers, preachers and teachers of God's Word, but the way to know the truth is to spend time in God's Word. 

Today, start the habit of reading God's Word daily. Today is the day to take that first step. And, if you are reading it daily, recommit to God that you will read, study, and apply His Word to your life. This is abiding in Christ in truth.