Hold on to the Word | Pastor Greg | 4/28/20

John 8:31-32 31  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word,
you are truly my disciples,  32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We are bombarded by information every day. As if the data overload wasn’t difficult
enough to manage, this current pandemic has literally pushed the world online over the past six
weeks. As a result, even more information greets us throughout the day than ever before.
So what is true? What isn’t? At this time more than ever, we need to hold on to what’s in “the
Book”. The Bible is filled with truth that brings life to those who have ears to hear it.
Jesus makes it clear in the verse mentioned above that the key to walking in the truth is
to abide in His word. When we do this we demonstrate that we are His disciples. His Word is in
a class by itself and it should hold the ultimate authority for those who follow Jesus. Also, when
we abide in His word, He says that we will know the truth and that His truth will set us free.
People who call themselves Christians are too often giving in to following “wisdom”
from the world. This leads to bondage and even deception. Christ died for us so that we would
have freedom from all of that. So in this shutdown season where God has given us time to
reflect on what is going on in the world, may we search the scriptures in order to know the
truth. When we come to know the truth and then live the truth then and only then will we be
set free.

However, our desire should be to follow all that is written in the Bible and not just the
verses that we want to follow. Also, we do need to be careful that we do not twist certain
verses by taking them out of context in order to suit our own purposes. We should seek to
know the whole truth by studying God’s Word in context to prayerfully understand what it
meant to the audience at the time it was written and then how God’s timeless principles apply
to us today.

May we have ears to hear what God is saying to us in His Word and not try to force our
opinions upon the text of scripture. We will better understand God’s truth and what He is
saying to us, if we make it a habit to hold on the Word and its truth every day in every way.
When we are bombarded by information this week and questions arise, we should go to the
Bible to understand, “where stands it written.” The best way to glorify God is to know God’s
Word and then to live God’s Word. This was true for God’s people in the Old Testament and it
is true for the true disciples of Christ in the 21st century.

Joshua 1:8 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous
and successful.