John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

The thing about continuing is that to do so, you have to start. Ever met a Christian who only reads his bible in Sunday school, church or meetings? That is better than nothing but this is not what Christ meant by continuing in His word. The root word for disciple is discipline, it takes discipline to continue in reading His word. Reading, studying, meditating, discussing, reasoning, ands sharing His word takes disciple.

I understand better than most how life can get insistent on your time. I am a 24/7 caregiver for a failing wife. I am dedicated to her and there is nothing I won’t do for her, but one. I won’t give up my quiet time. I may have to allow interruptions, wait for her to sleep, allow others to watch over her for a moment, but I have the discipline to continue in His word.

Then there is the practice of the word. What good is knowledge without application? No one is trained up to allow those talents to go to waste. The word must also be used do what the word does best, glorify God.

Psalm 57:5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

And this so that those who do not know Him might come to know and love Him also.

Psalm 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

How would they come to seek God if no one were to declare His word?

John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Because He loves us so.

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Have you ever burped and could smell what you have been eating or had a glint of the taste again?

A clear understanding of just how much good you soulful diet is doing you is when you burp. Voluntary noise with an aftertaste of spiritual diet. Is it a pleasant experience or is it a reminder that you haven’t been on the right diet?

Spiritual diets are much like weight loss diets. The results might not reflect a healthy change. The Holy Spirit is in charge of sending you a signal that your diet is healthy or not.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Just because you like what a preacher says, doesn’t make it gospel. Just because you are joined in fellowship with people that agree with you, doesn’t make you right. In every group there should be a voice of questioning. Even if they are wrong, they are there to learn and grow also. My advice during those moments is to allow the Holy Spirit to judge the smell of another’s burp.

All of us want to be right on important issues. Sound doctrine rises from building upon a sure foundation. Only a master builder can tell you if the stone you just laid is misplaced.

Psalm 119:27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

BURP!