A good beginning does not automatically guarantee success. The fastest horse, car or runner at the start of a race may not have the endurance to be victorious in the end. How we persevere is at least as important as how we begin.
"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ( John 8:31-32 )
If a good beginning was all that was necessary then Jesus would have commended these believing Jews and moved on to seek out other people of faith. But believing was just the beginning. Endurance was essential and was based upon one key thing: continuing in the word of Jesus. This was the true proof of discipleship and the doorway to liberating truth.
The word of Jesus is the word of God. "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." ( John 5:19 ). Jesus could accurately be described as "Mr.Word" - the literally personification of God's word; the "word made flesh".
To continue, or abide in Christ is essential. It involves a continual devotion to both the Man and the message. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" ( John 5:39 ).
I've met those who professed faith in Christ but displayed little evidence of continuing in Him. They "punched their ticket" on the day of their baptism but their faith seemed forever locked in that moment in time. Freshness and spiritual vitality seemed absent; faith was a historic event, not a present reality.
Continuing in the word of Christ is the pathway to discovery, vitality and joy. A lifelong commitment to knowing both the Man and the message breathes true life into an otherwise decaying and dying mortal soul.
Spiritual vitality is not found in some new pursuit but in remaining in the ever-old and ever-new word of Christ. Through it truth is formed and we are transformed.
May we each experience true spiritual vitality as we continue in the word of Christ, which is also the word of God.
Steve
"So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." ( John 8:31-32 )
If a good beginning was all that was necessary then Jesus would have commended these believing Jews and moved on to seek out other people of faith. But believing was just the beginning. Endurance was essential and was based upon one key thing: continuing in the word of Jesus. This was the true proof of discipleship and the doorway to liberating truth.
The word of Jesus is the word of God. "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." ( John 5:19 ). Jesus could accurately be described as "Mr.Word" - the literally personification of God's word; the "word made flesh".
To continue, or abide in Christ is essential. It involves a continual devotion to both the Man and the message. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me" ( John 5:39 ).
I've met those who professed faith in Christ but displayed little evidence of continuing in Him. They "punched their ticket" on the day of their baptism but their faith seemed forever locked in that moment in time. Freshness and spiritual vitality seemed absent; faith was a historic event, not a present reality.
Continuing in the word of Christ is the pathway to discovery, vitality and joy. A lifelong commitment to knowing both the Man and the message breathes true life into an otherwise decaying and dying mortal soul.
Spiritual vitality is not found in some new pursuit but in remaining in the ever-old and ever-new word of Christ. Through it truth is formed and we are transformed.
May we each experience true spiritual vitality as we continue in the word of Christ, which is also the word of God.
Steve
posted by steve @ 8:55 AM
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