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 common responses I hear after I preach is, “Great reminder, Pastor!” I’m glad that people are reminded of truth, but I hope they don’t stop there. Simply knowing what God’s Word says does nothing for you. You need to put that knowledge to work.
In fact, this is what it means to be a disciple—a disciplined follower of Jesus. When you look up discipline in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, you’ll find words like “obedience, order, self-control and training.” As you train yourself in the Word, obey God’s teachings and walk in His ways, you mature as a believer.
Why is this so important? Because in any area of your life that is lacking discipline, you will experience personal limitations and painful consequences.
If someone is undisciplined in their finances, they invite the pain of debt and overspending into their life. They also limit their ability to give or finance God’s Kingdom. Someone who is undisciplined in relationships will experience drama, heartache and loneliness. Without understanding why, they may struggle to hang on to the right people.
You are called to be a disciple! Growing in the Word and putting it to work in every area is crucial. Jesus said that if we abide in the Word, the truth will make us free. This “abiding” is an active, continual process that you and I can walk out for the rest of our lives. What area of your life could use more practical application of the Word?