The truth will set you free

DAILY BIBLE READING:

1 Samuel 18:5–19:24 
John 8:31-59 
Psalm 112:1-10 
Proverbs 15:12-14

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

John 8:31-32 (ESV) "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed 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.'"

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Freedom! We love that word. In America, we celebrate that we live in a country with so many freedoms. We like to do as we please.

Yet, even in America, "the land of the free," we have thousands of laws and the number continues to grow. Why? Because as long as there are sinful, self-seeking hearts, there will be people who use their freedoms to trample on other people's freedoms.

The irony is that to enjoy freedom, there must be constraints (laws).

Yet, in our text, Jesus has promised freedom!

John 8:31-32 (ESV) "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed 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.'"

So, what is this "freedom" that Jesus is talking about and how can it be maintained?

Briefly stated, the freedom alluded to in this verse is the freedom from bondage to sin. Just read the next comments that Jesus makes a couple of verses later and this point becomes clear. Jesus can set us free from sin and sinful habits that would bind us and destroy us.

Further, freedom would eventually devolve into anarchy if it weren't for laws. But, this is also alluded to in this verse. "If you abide in my word..." Jesus says that the Bible becomes the instruction manual (law book) for those set free and, in fact, it works to set us free even more. As long as we are learning from God's Word, repenting deeply of where we fall short, and making the necessary adjustments, we will be getting freed from sin's chains and set free to serve, love, and enjoy our Lord.

An unexpected road to freedom

Are you struggling with guilt or shame? Have you done something (or are doing something) that you know is wrong and yet cannot break free of it?

The very LAST thing we feel like doing is exposing our sin and weakness to someone else. Our mind and heart absolutely resists being vulnerable with someone else. 

Why? 

Because it sets us up for further pain. What if they look down on us? What if they condemn us? What if they cut us off? What if they share our sin with others?

These concerns are legitimate. But, to experience spiritual release and freedom, we have to embark into the ocean of uncertainty.

Listen to what God's Word says about this:

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed..." (James 5:16).

Let me tell you how this works (and I have seen it work over and over in my life and in the lives of others). 

When we humble ourselves before a trusted Jesus-follower and share our sin struggles, we are able to hear Jesus speak through them. 

Too often, we ask Jesus for forgiveness of our sin(s) but we struggle to receive that forgiveness because it isn't audible. We can't look in His compassion-filled eyes, see the seriousness of our sin, and hear Him say, "That's a sin I died for. You have repented of it. Of course you are forgiven. Go and sin no more." Since we can't see it and hear it (experience it), we may struggle to receive the forgiveness and healing that Jesus is offering to us.

Yet, when a Jesus-follower, who is serious about both holiness and grace, tells us that our sin is serious but so is Jesus' grace ("...where sin increased, grace abounded all the more," Romans 5:20), then we may experience that "moment" we need to break free of our sin with its shame and guilt. When they look us in the eye after we have told them of our sin (and our repentance to the Lord) and say, "That sin is serious but of course Jesus has forgiven you," that can be a profound moment that helps us break free from the chains of sin, guilt and shame.

So, are you struggling with feeling forgiven by God? Are you struggling with shame and guilt? Why not obey James 5:16, find a trusted Jesus-follower, swallow your self-defeating pride, and take the steps to move into a freedom and forgiveness you may have not felt in a very long time.

Breaking the chains that enslave us

So many people are in bondage. They are enslaved to a painful past, anger, self-destructive mindsets, sinful habits, ... On and on this list could go. 

But, it is not Jesus' desire for us to remain in bondage to what would destroy us. No! God gets no glory when His children are enslaved to anything other than Him, who showed us how much He cares for us on the Cross.

So is there a remedy? Is there some way to break free from the chains? Yes! A thousand times Yes! 

While sometimes we will need to enlist the help of others, our ultimate remedy is found in studying, believing and applying the life-giving principles found on the pages of God's Word.

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31-32 NLT)