S) "31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'"
John 8:31-32 (NASB)
O) I think a lot of people know verse 32, but not a lot of people realize that it was conditional. Our freedom depends on knowing the truth and knowing the truth depends on being His disciple and being His disciple depends on continuing in His word. We cannot follow a discipline without first knowing the discipline, knowing the lesson. I cannot say that I follow the disciplines of judo if I know nothing of judo. Neither can I reap the benefits of judo if I am not disciplined in judo. The same is true for being a Christian, which is in fact, following the discipline of Christ.
A) So, foremost, I need to know the disciplines; I need to know His word. Studying something of God's word on a daily basis has become an integral part of my lifestyle over the last several months and I need to keep it up over the next - forever - years. Beyond simply knowing the discipline, though, I need to be disciplined by the principles. I need to be applying the words I read and not simply write about them. When I am living according to what I read, and implementing what I write, then I will find continued freedom, just as I have found freedom already.
P) Father, continue to refine me, Lord. You are a consuming fire, according to Scripture, and You will burn out impurities in me, in my heart. I want Your word to do just that. As I read Your words each day, wash me with them, cleanse my heart to be humbled before You and to seek Your will over my own in every way. Help me to take captive every desire of my flesh, to examine it and ensure that I am not a slave to it. Holy Spirit, reveal to me the will of the Father in everything, so I can follow the disciplines of the Son, being a true disciple, and I can walk in freedom. I don't want to be a slave to my flesh, which is perishing. Help me to walk in subjection to The King, being a bondslave to Christ, who never perishes. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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