real!

Real! How often have you heard the challenge to “get real”?  Take off the mask, let go of pretense, be authentic. We live in an age where people will do almost anything to create a good image.  Way more  time, attention, and money is put on the outer self than the inner soul.

Jesus is all about truth–inner authenticity rather than outer image.  He is shaking up the Pharisees in John 8 with the startling claims that He has been sent by God.  Despite the controversy, many of the Jews put their faith in Him (John 8:30).  To those who believed (and to us) He makes this promise:

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).

The word for truth here is aletheia.  It comes from a word that means “genuine, authentic, real.”  Jesus’ brand of  truth sets us free. But I have never reflected much on the first part of the passage.  The promise of freedom is conditional.  If you abide in my word, you are my disciples and you will know the truth…   I’m His disciple if  I “abide” in His word.  Abide means “to endure, to remain, to wait for.”   

There’s a connection to spending time abiding with Christ in His Word and knowing the truth that sets me free.  In my busy world, I must be intentional about abiding in His word.

As I mentioned yesterday, I have discovered that fasting is a powerful way to disconnect from some of the bondage to busyness.  It slows me down and sharpens my inner hearing.  Valuable stuff as I pray for our nation and our important election.

Hope you’ll join me today in abiding in His Word.  In listening to His voice–the voice of truth.