From: May 16, 2024
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32 ESV).
Jesus gave those who believed in Him and continued in His word three promises. The first promise was assurance of salvation. For those who abide or continue in Christ’s word prove themselves to be His disciples. They live in His word and His word lives in them.
The second promise was that His disciples would “know the truth.” In order to fully understand this statement, we must recognize that in John’s gospel, truth is not a philosophy but a Person. As Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). So Jesus is the truth and the word he speaks is from the Father and has the power to sanctify and cleanse us. As Jesus prayed to his Father for us, “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
This leads to the third promise Jesus gave, which was the “truth will set you free.” Free from what? Sin’s bondage and sin’s penalty. Abiding in Christ’s word and knowing the truth, we are set free from our propensity to sin. The old sin nature is crucified, losing its power over us. And the penalty of sin, which is death (Rom. 6:23), is paid for according to the gospel truth– that Jesus paid the death that we owed, so that we might receive eternal life.
Jesus is the truth. Do you know Him?
PRAYER: Dear Father, we have believed in Jesus and in His word, therefore we know the truth and have been set free from sin. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Strengthen us to walk in the truth today by your Spirit of Truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 16, 2023
“Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God” (John 8:47 NLT).
Jesus explained to those who refused to believe in Him that their unbelief was based on their willful rejection of truth. This willful rejection of Jesus as Messiah revealed them to be “children of the devil” (John 8:44), rather than children of God. For if they had been of God, then they would have gladly listened to the words of God spoken by Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote that the things of God are “foolishness” to those without the Spirit for only those who are spiritual can understand them (1 Cor. 2:14-15). And so, the Spirit of Christ still calls to us saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt. 11:15).
Do you ears to hear? Do you gladly read and listen to the Word of God?
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for Your Word. For it is food for our souls and encouragement for our hearts. We love Your Word. Anoint us afresh with Your Spirit today that we might live and speak according to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: May 16, 2016
This was Christ’s response to the Jewish leaders who claimed to have no need of being “set free.” He told them that they were “slaves to sin.” In other words, sin owned them. Even if they wanted to stop sinning, they couldn’t. Sin was their master. And the fact that they were blind to this slavery, made its grip upon them all the more powerful. Denying their sinfulness, they remained enslaved. Yet, if only they had confessed. If only they had admitted their sin and powerlessness to stop, then Christ would have broken their bonds and set them free.
From: May 16, 2015
“Abide (to stay, remain, wait, continue, endure, live) in My word.” Having already believed the word of Christ, we are to “abide” in it, showing that we are truly His followers. Believing His word, we are saved. Abiding in His word, we continually die to self and live to God. How do we abide in His word? Hearing, reading, meditating, memorizing and especially applying His Word, we begin to “abide” in the Vine, yielding the Spirit’s fruit.
From: May 16, 2014
Jesus said this to those who believed in him. Those who did not believe declared that they were never slaves, so why did they need set free. But Jesus told them that whoever sins is a slave to sin. This “truth” that Jesus offered is more than the light that exposes sin. It is the Person that both reveals and redeems us from sin. Truth is more than a concept. Truth is embodied in a Person. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6).
From: May 16, 2013
When David burst onto the scene in Israel’s history, everything he did succeeded. All the people loved him, but King Saul was jealous. It’s hard for an older man who has labored for years to see such success come to one so young. For those of us who are closer to Saul’s age, how can we begin to mentor and bless the “Davids” of our generation, rather than belittle their youth? Who knows. Perhaps the Lord is with them. And so, shouldn’t we be with them too?