REMAIN IN ME - PART 5

WEDNESDAY 04 OCTOBER 2023

To be steadfast and firm in the faith of the gospel which we've received, we must let the Word remain in us. When the Words settles in our heart, it helps us to be fully persuaded in our hope of receiving our inheritance and expectations in Christ. This is because it increases our faith, and causes us to remain faithful, blessed and triumphant. In addition, giving the Word access to our human spirit helps us to abound in the work of the Lord, always doing the Lord's service, and obeying His commands. In fact, we are better equipped to serve the Lord as we continually immerse ourselves in the Word.

Reference: John 15:7 New Living Translation (NLT) "But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted."

Jesus is the living embodiment of the Word of God. So His words are the true source of everlasting truths that express the revealed wisdom of God. The Word conveys the accurate utterances of God's will that come in shapes and dimensions. For instance, we have the good, pleasing [or acceptable] and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2 ESVUK). When the Word is resident in you, it offers you supernatural wisdom to face the challenges of life, plus it answers your ultimate questions through the divine revelation it communicates.

By gaining its knowledge, more grace is imparted to you to enable you live an effective Christian life. So when we grant it access to our inwardness by hearing and cogitating on it with ardent alacrity, we are bigly transformed by its power, and empowered to experience the dictates by the Spirit of truth.

Make notes as you study the Word, and then, read them to yourself over and over every day. This practice helps you to retain, treasure and assimilate it in your heart, and in turn, it expands your heart with a sense of joy and true freedom.

The Word empowers us with the knowledge of what is right and encourages us to also do it. More so, as we practise it, it moulds us to become more like Christ and to place our confidence in God without doubting Him. It is full of grace and truth and it grants divine blessings of unspeakable value to those who are willing to know the mind and will of God by giving it utmost attention. And the knowledge of the Word is an ideal perfection for our spiritual advancement and all-round wellbeing, due to the power of God that accompanies it (Psalm 19:7 NIV).

Titus 1:1-2 reads, "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time" (NIV). Did you grasp this truth? It states that apostle Paul was sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.

This tells us that the knowledge of truths in the Word leads to godliness, and therefore, our stream of phenomenal consciousness of the Word is based on our ability to be highly synchronized with godly wisdom for godly manifestations and for a successful Christian living.

As we grow in the Word, we come to the understanding that the Christian life is not really a continual process of making an effort to get rid of sin and evil, but a continual process of becoming more like Christ as a result of our assiduous consecration, which denotes living the "supernatural" life.

So it pays to be continually devoted to God, in all our faculties, thoughts and actions, and to receive into ourselves more and more of God. This is exactly what the Word does for us as it remains in us richly. Therefore, let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives...(Colossians 3:16 NLT). Stay tuned for the exposition of the last segment in part 6. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 19:7; Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:130; John 17:17; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, your Word is a lamp that guides my feet and a light for my path. It shows me the way forward and heavenward, and spurs me towards the right direction at all times. The pleasures of virtue and goodness I gain from the Word solidify me in the light of Christ's character and position me for a victorious living on earth, in Jesus' Name, Amen!