abide in my word

“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) 

When we are taught to read in school, we are taught to read in a certain way—informationally.  Reading informationally means that the goal is to read as much as possible, as fast as possible, in order to master the material.  In terms of reading the Bible, this is a good thing.  It leads to us knowing about God, and we can never know enough things about God.

But when it comes to knowing God, we must read a little differently.  We must begin to read for formation rather than just for information.  In other words, we must learn to not just read the word and study the word, but we must learn to abide in the word and listen to the word and meditate on the word.  That's when what is in the mind moves into the heart, which is how transformation takes place.  At that point, instead of us trying to master the word, the word comes to master and form us.  We begin to hear God’s voice in his word in a deep and personal way.  We begin to let the word live in us and move in us and grow in us.  Thus, the Bible ceases to be merely a textbook and becomes a series of love letters, telling one beautiful love story.