We’re walking through a lot of Scripture today, and each passage plays a part in the bigger picture. John 8:31–32 is the Verse of the Day, and it aligns well with the themes we see in Luke 19 and 1 Timothy 6. By the end, you’ll see how these passages speak to the same heart-level issues. It all connects.

The Starting Line: Luke 19:45-48

I may not be a NASCAR expert, as my knowledge about pit stops is more akin to getting a snack at the gas station, but I do enjoy a good metaphor! So buckle up, my friends, and give me some grace while I navigate this track (hopefully without spinning out)!

⁴⁵ And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, ⁴⁶ saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”

⁴⁷ And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, ⁴⁸ but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. (ESV)

Today is the auspicious day when stores are packed, tempers are hot little potatoes, and everyone’s trying to get the “best deal” while simultaneously trampling other people. And honestly? The more unhinged moments of Black Friday always remind me of Luke 19:45-48, when Jesus entered the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers.

First Gear: BOGO 50%

What would He think about the lengths people go to in order to save money on things they didn’t “need” until this very day? I’m not asking because shopping is bad (it’s not!). Buying a television isn’t bad. Trading currency for goods isn’t evil. I ask because those who take this day too far are sitting at the tables Jesus would have flipped: greed, excess, manipulation, obsession…

Second Gear: The Love of Money

We’ve all heard the saying “Money is the root of all evil.” But that’s not what Scripture says. 1 Timothy 6:10 (ESV) actually reads:

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Not money itself but the heart behind it. We are the catalyst that makes an inanimate object a blessing or a burden.

Third Gear: John 8:31-32

Jesus was teaching in the temple during the Festival of Booths in John 7–8, confronting the religious leaders about who He is, unbelief, and true discipleship. And in the middle of all of that, He says:

“If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (ESV)

• In John 8:1-11 He addressed lust.
• In Luke 19:45-48 He addressed greed.
• In John 8:31-32, He addressed unbelief.

They are different issues, but the same root problem: misplaced love and loyalty.

Fourth Gear: Abide

Let’s focus on the word “abide.” In John 8:31, the word comes from the Greek menō (μένω). Strong’s Concordance (G3306) defines it as “to cleave to, hold fast to, remain with.”

Since Jesus is the Word (John 1:1), abiding in His Word is abiding in Him. This means clinging to what He has said, remaining with Him, and staying beside Him.

Still with me?

Fifth Gear: Bydand

As a descendant of Clan Gordon (Scotland), whose motto, “Bydand,” means “abiding” or “steadfast,” I hear Jesus calling me back to the same thing my ancestors valued: abiding. Being loyal. Standing firm in what actually matters.

They carried this mindset into battle, supporting Robert the Bruce in his fight for Scotland’s freedom. Cue the Braveheart music.

Finish Line!

So, today, whether you’re out shopping or curled up filling out an online cart at home, please don’t sit at the wrong table. Don’t let your heart chase what can’t satisfy. Do not abide in greed.

Cleave to Jesus. Rest in His truth. Let Him be the one you pursue.

Bydand.