Freedom

 It seems that everyone wants freedom. They don't want to be slaves to anyone. They want to do whatever they want to do and whatever feels good to them. However, not too many people are finding freedom, because when they do what they think is right, it leads to bondage and addictions of one kind or another. The source of freedom isn't in politics or in personal autonomy. Jesus is the Only One who can give true freedom.

When Jesus preached to the people, many of them said they believed in Him to be the Messiah. So He had something to say to them to make sure they really believed in Him. (John 8:31-32) 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." Yes, Jesus is the only way to be set free from anything that would keep us in bondage, so let's listen to what He said.

A real disciple is one who always follows the teacher. In the case of being a disciple of Jesus we have to believe that He is Lord of all, so that we turn from our sins and trust Him to forgive our sins by His sacrifice on the cross. That is a permanent decision, so that we will remain faithful to His teachings the rest of our life. He is the Truth, and His teachings are true, so we will be growing in the truth and abiding in it.

When we do that we will know the truth. We will be convinced that what Jesus teaches is true and right. We will live by all that He says, so we will be set free from the penalty of our sins by His sacrifice, and we will be free from the bondage of sin in our lives every day, until we go to heaven and we are freed from  the very presence of sin. Now, that is real freedom, isn't it? I pray we will all experience this true freedom in Jesus.

Tomorrow, I intend to read John 10-12.