The truth is important to God. And because it is important to God, it should be important to us. When we talk about the truth, what are we talking about? Well, we are talking about the truths of God and not the facts of man.
Now, here's what I mean. A man I know was tricked and betrayed. When the problem was uncovered, he wanted to know all the details of the situation. He searched and talked and acted like an amateur detective for several months. He just had to know all of the details of his past problem.
When he was asked why he had to find out all the ugly details, he responded by using a scripture verse. He said, "I can't forgive until I find out all the facts. I have to know the truth. After all, Jesus said 'you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.'"
It was good that he knew the Bible, but he didn't know the Word. Let's look at what Jesus really said.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, "If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Now you can see that this man quoted the Word, but he didn't quote the complete Word. Sometimes that can be very convenient.
Jesus said that IF we would abide in His Word - continue in His Word - THEN we would be His disciples and THEN we would know the truth, and THEN we would be made free.
We must take things in context and we must take them in order. First we must abide in His Word. We must daily read and meditate on God's Word, the Holy Bible. We must read and let the Word come alive within us. It can't be just another book. We must read it and believe that every Word is true. We must read it knowing that it is the inspired Word of God and that it was penned only after the Words came from His lips.
Abiding in His Word means that we must trust His Word. If God says that He wants to heal us, we must believe His Word. If God's Word says He wants to prosper us, then we must believe His Word. If God's Word says that He wants to save us and fill us with His Holy Spirit, then we must believe His Word. Only when we believe will we receive. Only when we completely abide and trust in what He says will His Word come alive and work in our lives.
When we abide in His Word, we become disciples and the truths of God's Word will come alive. Then we will be set free.
Knowing the facts about a particular circumstance will not set you free. Knowing all the gossip will not set you free. In fact it will bind you.
Only the Word of God made alive in your heart will set you free.
Remember, Jesus said, "If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
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