Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, ‘If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’
Into the Text
You become what you love. Whatever, or whoever, we love, we make time for, admire, and even start to resemble. The same is true in our relationship with Jesus. When we love Him, we’ll naturally make space for Him in our lives. Over time, we’ll grow to be more like Him.
When you first met Jesus, you more than likely only knew Him as your Savior. But that’s only the beginning. We’re called to keep growing in our relationship and knowledge of Jesus, deepening our love for Him. The better we know Him, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we reflect His character in our lives.
Through our relationship, Jesus’ life begins to shine through us, transforming us from the inside out. God’s purpose for each of us is to “be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). Abiding in Him each day helps us walk in that purpose. The secret of abiding lies in obedience.
What does it mean to obey Him? It means following His teaching, His words. We cannot separate Jesus from His words. If we love Him, we will do as He said we should do. We don’t pick and choose what we like about His teaching, but we take very seriously all that He taught us in the Bible. We don’t “wander off” from His will as it is revealed in the Scriptures but remain in it. We don’t doubt any of His promises but believe them, abiding in His Word.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for calling me to abide in you. Help me to know you more deeply, love you more fully, and obey you with all my heart. May your life be reflected in me each day. Amen.