Abide In My Word

In my last article I looked at Jesus’ command to love one another even as he has loved us. Today we look at John 8:31-32 which states, “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’”

Truth is a word that is often considered paradoxical at best. It is a word both meaningful and simple; straightforward and complex. It is often quoted, often discussed, often argued, and too often disregarded. Authors, poets, preachers, theologians and politicians, moms and dads – all have much to tell us about truth.

One of my favorite quotes about truth comes from the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. In this he talks about truth and hope with these words:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

This is our hope. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

Truth is sometimes hard to come by. It is sometimes brandished like a sword and sometimes hidden like an embarrassing blemish. But in fact, ‘truth’ is something quite more than a mere word that we bandy around. Truth is a way of life and it provides an underlying meaning to what we do and who we are.

On a grand scale John Wesley, our Methodist founder, would refer to truth in social terms calling it social holiness or social justice.

Wesley would teach that people must be Christians in both word and deed and that this expressed the love of God. As we grow in God’s grace we are first prepared to believe – to have faith in God and God’s action in our lives. And then we are motivated and spiritually directed to respond to God in faith through our good works by being involved in God’s mission.

Wesley not only preached this, but he practiced what he preached. He lived modestly and gave all he could to help people who were poor. He visited people in prison and hospitals and gave spiritual guidance, food and clothing. He helped create schools and orphanages and spoke out against the social injustices of slavery.

Truth is recognizing and understanding what is wrong in our lives – both personally and socially. Truth is seeing the suffering around us and not turning a blind eye to it. Truth is seeing through the compassionate eyes of Jesus Christ; it is hearing the cries for help through his sensitive ears and responding to need with his loving heart.

Jesus says know the truth. When we do this we begin to be part of God’s kingdom plan – building a kingdom ruled by Christ in which peace, love, care and concern for one another are foremost in our hearts. This is precisely what Jesus is talking about when he says, if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.

Abide means to remain in place, to stay where it is. It is a fixed state – permanent, lasting, enduring and remaining. Jesus says, abide in my word. Be in me, remain in me – be enduring and lasting in this relationship with me (Jesus). But I also believe he is saying – I (Jesus) will be permanent, steadfast, a fixed state in your life.

Abiding in the Word of God – accepting Christ into our lives as our savior, our redeemer and knowing that God is at work in us through Christ – is our hope. Not only is it our hope but it is the realization that this is the revelation of God – God revealed to us. And this is the truth.

Jesus understands we live in a world that repudiates this truth and replaces it with fashionable truths. Sometimes this is my truth; sometimes it is your truth; and sometimes it’s the truth of another person. But what Jesus is saying is that we need to recognize there is only one truth. There is only one hope, and it is God in Christ.

This is the truth. And if we know it, this truth will set us free.