John 8:31-36

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, “You will be made free?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but the son abides forever. Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

John 8:31-36

From the very beginning of time, freedom is something that has been talked about and all that people have wanted. Here, Jesus points out to the religious leaders that there is only one way to be free.

Jesus spoke directly to the believers that day, “Abide in my words”, and if you do, “you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”  Jesus spoke this amazing truth to those who had just given their lives to God. They were now free. And I am thinking they were nodding and smiling with tears in their eyes. And all the while, the unbelieving Jews and the religious leaders were listening to all this thinking, “I’m not in bondage to anyone or anything!”

Isn’t that what we thought before we met the Lord? That we were as free as a bird… and that we were calling our own shots? The thing is, when you’re in sin, you become blind to the fact that you are in bondage. And even as God’s kids, we can sometimes forget and fall back into that bondage of sin, the world and the flesh. It happens!  

If you have found yourself looking back and getting tangled up in those old ways lately… whatever it is, know that Jesus has set you free!  We don’t have to go back to those old ways. We can say NO! as we abide in His word.  Like Jesus to the believers that day, He says to you and me today….”if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  

I am free in Jesus!

Pastor Rich Kikuchi