A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (June 14, 2018)
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32, NKJV)
One of the most difficult things I’ve had to try to do is explain to people how to abide in His Word. Most people see abiding in the Word from a works perspective. They just want to try to do what it says to do and they interpret that as abiding in the Word. While that is a part of it, that is only a very surface and shallow interpretation of what abiding in the Word is all about.
The word “abide” in the scripture means to “live in” and to “continue in”. We are to meditate and place ourselves (superimpose ourselves) into the Word if we want to understand and gain revelation from it. We have to live in it. The best analogy I can give you is one that I have used before in devotions. Consider when a great actor studies for a character role. They learn everything about that person they can and try to basically get into that person’s skin. They learn their habits and lingo and eventually get to a place where they are looking like them and thinking like them.
When you meditate on a particular story in the Bible, you need to be like a great actor. You read it over and over again. You pray about it. You research different translations and lookup key words in the Greek or Hebrew. For example, when you are studying about the disciples going to the other side in that boat when that violent storm arose and Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. When you get to a point where you can start feeling the emotions, doubts, and questions of the disciples, that is when you will get beyond just milk and receive meat. That is when revelation comes. It does not come without digging!
The “Woman at the Well” story in John Chapter 4 is another great example. This is not just a simple story about Jesus meeting a woman. When you really get into this encounter you will see Jesus is meeting with all of us at that well, not just one woman. The walls that are being broken down at this well are the same walls we deal with today. If you really dig into that story you will see a road map to revival. You will see a plan to reach a city. You will not see those things with just a cursory scanning of these passages. You have to spend time digging it out. It’s kind of like gold mining. If you are a gold miner you are not going to just go out somewhere and pick up gold off the ground. No, you are going to have to dig for it. You are going to have to tunnel for it. You are going to have to seek it! But when you find it, it is a really good day!!!
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. (Proverbs 3:13-15)
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3-5)
I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. (Psalm 119:15-16)
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22)
