So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Who does not remember the end of the Braveheart movie when William Wallace thunders the word "Freeeeeedom"? That ending echoed in all of our souls. There is something in all of us that wants to be free. People that live in totalitarian states long to taste freedom. Slaves want to be free from their masters. Addicts want to be free from the drugs that hold them captive. Apart from all of this external bondage there is an internal slavery that is greater. Being free on the inside is the freedom that Jesus speaks of.
Consider how the religious leaders of his day were so enslaved to hatred that they were plotting to kill Jesus. This is the proverbial end to sin. The deception of sin is that you can dip your toe into its waters and not get wet all over. Such is the progression of the sickness of sin. What begins in jealousy morphs into hatred then blooms fully in murder. To this Jesus offers a truth that results in freedom. He says that the only way to be free is to be set free spiritually in the Son and in His word. There is no other way.
Your word sets me free Lord Jesus. Help me to abide daily in your word.
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I praise God Jesus willingly paid the price for our/MY freedom and we are truly FREE INDEED!!!
ReplyDeleteOh Bob ~ That is the key...living in the Word, studying it, meditating on it, and then with the help of the Holy Spirit, living it out....
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm been amiss in commenting...We have taken an active role in the care of Don's Aunt Trula (89) that lives across the street from us. Her kids don't live close enough to care for her on a daily basis...And she hate the idea of not being able to live at home. So Don and I are making sure she has meals and takes her meds. It does take a little more time from our schedules, but we love her like our Mother, and are thrilled that her kids trust us with her care.
So....If you don't come every day, you'll know why!
Love and hug...and you and Ann are always in my prayers.