Make Room for His Word

Rev. Faulk Landrum preached this past Sunday from John 8:31-37.
Take a moment to read the passage for yourself. If you don't have a Bible within reach, click the Scripture reference above to read online.

The reading of this Word began thoughts stirring.

Jesus said... "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples..."

Abide... there's a word to ponder. 

abide... verb... 1: to wait for: await 2 a: to endure without yielding: withstand b: to bear patiently: tolerate... 3: to accept without objection... verb transitive 1: to remain stable or fixed in a state 2: to continue in a place: sojourn... 

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.) 

To wait for... We wait for His Word, by trusting His promises. Awaiting His return by faith. Prepared. Readied.

To endure without yielding... Sometimes, His Word is hard to endure. It is not always what we want to hear or how we want to live. But we endure it. Not giving into temptation.

To bear patiently... His Word often comes with rebuke and conviction. We are to choose to come into agreement with Him regarding sin in our lives, accept what He says as true without objection.

To remain stable or fixed in a state... Here we are supposed to walk His Way. Not waver. Live firmly planted on the foundation of His Word.

To continue in a place... Ultimately, the place we abide is the place where we live. Our abode during our brief journey through this broken world. We are to live in His Word.

Jesus tells us that those who seek to kill Him --- silence Him --- do so because His Word finds no place in them.

These individuals do not abide in His Word. There is no place for it in their lives.

And the question rises... Is there a place in you for His Word?

Without abiding, living in and by His Word, there is no truth, no freedom.

"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32 ESV

Consider whether His Word is your abode.

If not, begin to make a place for it in your life.

His Word is the only sure foundation for a life free to love others with compassion and without fear.

Carol Weaver