“So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word [hold fast to my teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” — John 8:31-32 AMP
The Silly Putty Principle
When I was young, I remember the excitement of getting that classic plastic egg from the store. Inside was a simple glob of Silly Putty. We’d roll it into a ball to make it bounce, but our favorite thing to do was to flatten it out and press it firmly onto the Sunday comics.
When you pulled the putty away, it had physically absorbed the ink. The image from the paper was now perfectly impressed upon the putty.
Becoming the Impression
Just like that Silly Putty, we are called to be pliable. To “abide” in the Word is to do more than just read it; it is to press our lives so firmly against the truth of God that His “ink” begins to show up on us.
Jesus tells us that this is the mark of a true disciple. When we hold fast to His teachings and live in accordance with them, we aren’t just following rules—we are allowing His character to be impressed on us and in us.
Freedom Through Abiding
The promise that follows is profound: And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Freedom isn’t found in a one-time glance at a Bible verse. It is found in the continual abiding. As we stay pressed into His Word, the truth becomes so much a part of our identity that it naturally displaces the lies of the enemy. The things that once desired to hold us captive lose their grip because we have taken on a new impression—the image of Christ.
Reflection
How does this affect our journey as Christian creatives who long to share the gospel through our gifts? Are there areas in your life that have grown resistant or “stiff”? Today, ask the Holy Spirit to make you pliable once again, so that His Word can leave its mark on your heart.
I am praying for those coming to The Well Conference, and I look forward to seeing you there!
