Monday
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:32 NIV
FREE TO LIVE FREE
In a farmer’s market, in a little village, there was a covey of quail walking in circles around a pole. They had strings attached to their legs, and they continued to walk around and around the pole hour after hour. A man came into the market and asked, “How much will you take for all of them?” He paid the owner the agreed upon price and then began to cut the strings off of their legs. “What are you doing?” the owner asked in unbelief? “I’m setting them free,” said the new owner. But in spite of the strings being cut giving the quail their freedom, they continued to walk around the pole in the same old circle. Were those quails really free? The quails were technically free but they were not living free. They just kept walking in the same old circle.
In John 8:32, Jesus promised His genuine followers that they would experience genuine freedom. By the response of the crowd, it appears they thought He was talking about political freedom. Much like our nation today is consumed/frustrated with the political process, the crowd was also focused and frustrated with their political situation. And although the political process is ordained by God, and extremely important, it will never give anyone genuine freedom. It is amazing how after all these years many of us continue to walk in the same old circle of hoping the government will change our land.
Reflection
Jesus taught that true freedom began with a heart change. Jesus gives us the freedom to live differently. But you may already be aware of some areas of your own life where you are going in circles. Have you come to Christ and if so how has your life changed?
Pray/Praise
Pray and claim God’s promise of freedom in those areas where you struggle. Ask Him to point you in the direction where you can get the emotional, physical or spiritual help that you need to break the circle.
FREE TO LIVE FREE
In a farmer’s market, in a little village, there was a covey of quail walking in circles around a pole. They had strings attached to their legs, and they continued to walk around and around the pole hour after hour. A man came into the market and asked, “How much will you take for all of them?” He paid the owner the agreed upon price and then began to cut the strings off of their legs. “What are you doing?” the owner asked in unbelief? “I’m setting them free,” said the new owner. But in spite of the strings being cut giving the quail their freedom, they continued to walk around the pole in the same old circle. Were those quails really free? The quails were technically free but they were not living free. They just kept walking in the same old circle.
In John 8:32, Jesus promised His genuine followers that they would experience genuine freedom. By the response of the crowd, it appears they thought He was talking about political freedom. Much like our nation today is consumed/frustrated with the political process, the crowd was also focused and frustrated with their political situation. And although the political process is ordained by God, and extremely important, it will never give anyone genuine freedom. It is amazing how after all these years many of us continue to walk in the same old circle of hoping the government will change our land.
Reflection
Jesus taught that true freedom began with a heart change. Jesus gives us the freedom to live differently. But you may already be aware of some areas of your own life where you are going in circles. Have you come to Christ and if so how has your life changed?
Pray/Praise
Pray and claim God’s promise of freedom in those areas where you struggle. Ask Him to point you in the direction where you can get the emotional, physical or spiritual help that you need to break the circle.
Tuesday
“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin...So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” - John 8:34,36 NIV
FREE FROM POWERLESSNESS
Booker T. Washington was born a slave and later became one of the great educators of our country after emancipation. He headed the Tuskegee Institute, which flourished under his leadership. In his autobiography, Up from Slavery, he tells a story about his brother: “The most trying ordeal that I was forced to endure as a slave boy. . . was the wearing of a flax shirt. In the portion of Virginia where I lived, it was common to use flax as part of the clothing for the slaves. That part of the flax from which our clothing was made was largely the refuse, which of course was the cheapest and roughest part. I can scarcely imagine any torture, except, perhaps, the pulling of a tooth, that is equal to that caused by putting on a new flax shirt for the first time. It is almost equal to the feeling that one would experience if he had a dozen or more chestnut burrs, or a hundred small pin-points, in contact with his flesh. . . . But I had no choice. I had to wear the flax shirt or none. . . . My brother John, who is several years older than I am, performed one of the most generous acts that I ever heard of one slave relative doing for another. On several occasions when I was being forced to wear a new flax shirt, he generously agreed to put it on in my stead and wear it for several days, till it was ‘broken in.’”
One of the facts that stands out in this story told by Washington, was that as a slave, he had no choice in what he wore. The truth is, that as a slave you had very few choices and were mostly powerless to change your circumstances. Jesus used the analogy of slavery in John 8:34 to describe the power sin can have over us. It can make us like a powerless slave. Jesus would ultimately take our place and punishment to set us free from the penalty and the power of sin. So He goes on to say in verse 36, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Freedom from the power of sin is a promise from God.
Reflection
You may feel enslaved by sin. It is also possible to find freedom from sin because of what Jesus has done for you and desires to provide for you. The first step is a prayer of salvation. The next step is daily surrendering to His Lordship.
Praise/Prayer
Praise Jesus for taking your place and wearing your sin on the cross. Ask God to give you freedom from any sin you are struggling with.
FREE FROM POWERLESSNESS
Booker T. Washington was born a slave and later became one of the great educators of our country after emancipation. He headed the Tuskegee Institute, which flourished under his leadership. In his autobiography, Up from Slavery, he tells a story about his brother: “The most trying ordeal that I was forced to endure as a slave boy. . . was the wearing of a flax shirt. In the portion of Virginia where I lived, it was common to use flax as part of the clothing for the slaves. That part of the flax from which our clothing was made was largely the refuse, which of course was the cheapest and roughest part. I can scarcely imagine any torture, except, perhaps, the pulling of a tooth, that is equal to that caused by putting on a new flax shirt for the first time. It is almost equal to the feeling that one would experience if he had a dozen or more chestnut burrs, or a hundred small pin-points, in contact with his flesh. . . . But I had no choice. I had to wear the flax shirt or none. . . . My brother John, who is several years older than I am, performed one of the most generous acts that I ever heard of one slave relative doing for another. On several occasions when I was being forced to wear a new flax shirt, he generously agreed to put it on in my stead and wear it for several days, till it was ‘broken in.’”
One of the facts that stands out in this story told by Washington, was that as a slave, he had no choice in what he wore. The truth is, that as a slave you had very few choices and were mostly powerless to change your circumstances. Jesus used the analogy of slavery in John 8:34 to describe the power sin can have over us. It can make us like a powerless slave. Jesus would ultimately take our place and punishment to set us free from the penalty and the power of sin. So He goes on to say in verse 36, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Freedom from the power of sin is a promise from God.
Reflection
You may feel enslaved by sin. It is also possible to find freedom from sin because of what Jesus has done for you and desires to provide for you. The first step is a prayer of salvation. The next step is daily surrendering to His Lordship.
Praise/Prayer
Praise Jesus for taking your place and wearing your sin on the cross. Ask God to give you freedom from any sin you are struggling with.
Wednesday
“Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.” - John 8:35 NIV
FREE FROM REJECTION
Marc had had enough and decided to write a letter… Dear Ms. Ezell: Thank you for your letter of July 17. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me employment with your firm. This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of corporate candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all refusals for employment. Despite your company’s outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet with my needs at this time. Therefore, I will initiate employment with your firm immediately following graduation. I look forward to seeing you then. Best of luck in rejecting future candidates. Sincerely, Marc.
Life can seem to be filled with rejection. In John 8:31-59, the word “father” is used 13 times. This passage really is about “fathers” and “sons” and who belongs in the family. When Jesus called the religious leaders in the crowd “slaves”, He was warning them they were spiritually not members of the household and had no permanent place because they refused to come by faith. The good news is those who come to Christ by faith are in the family and have the promise that they are in the family “forever”(v35).
Reflection
When did you last feel rejected? As followers of Christ, the more we understand that we are fully loved and fully accepted by God the Father, the less pressure we feel to try and impress everyone around us.
Praise/Prayer
Thank Jesus for His love and our Heavenly Father for inviting you into His family. Ask God to show you today who needs to know that God loves them. Ask God to show you areas in your own life where you are making poor choices out of fear of rejection. And ask for the wisdom and the courage to choose differently.
FREE FROM REJECTION
Marc had had enough and decided to write a letter… Dear Ms. Ezell: Thank you for your letter of July 17. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me employment with your firm. This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of corporate candidates, it is impossible for me to accept all refusals for employment. Despite your company’s outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet with my needs at this time. Therefore, I will initiate employment with your firm immediately following graduation. I look forward to seeing you then. Best of luck in rejecting future candidates. Sincerely, Marc.
Life can seem to be filled with rejection. In John 8:31-59, the word “father” is used 13 times. This passage really is about “fathers” and “sons” and who belongs in the family. When Jesus called the religious leaders in the crowd “slaves”, He was warning them they were spiritually not members of the household and had no permanent place because they refused to come by faith. The good news is those who come to Christ by faith are in the family and have the promise that they are in the family “forever”(v35).
Reflection
When did you last feel rejected? As followers of Christ, the more we understand that we are fully loved and fully accepted by God the Father, the less pressure we feel to try and impress everyone around us.
Praise/Prayer
Thank Jesus for His love and our Heavenly Father for inviting you into His family. Ask God to show you today who needs to know that God loves them. Ask God to show you areas in your own life where you are making poor choices out of fear of rejection. And ask for the wisdom and the courage to choose differently.
Thursday
“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God.’” - John 8:42 NIV
FREE TO LOVE
Kathleen’s two daughters were having a discussion about family resemblance. “I look like Mom,” said the nine-year-old. “But I have dad’s eyes and dad’s lips,” The six-year-old said, “And I look just like dad, but I have light hair.” Then the six-year-old turned to Kathleen. “Mom,” she asked, “what does dad have to do with us being born anyway?” The older sister jumped right in. “Don’t be stupid, Christina. Dad is the one who drove Mom to the hospital.”
Like it or not dads have something to do with why we are all here. Yesterday, we mentioned the word “father” which was used 13 times in this passage. In John 8:42, Jesus taught that one of the ways to know if God was your Father was your love for His Son. 1 John 5:1-3 teaches:
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”
Reflection
A relationship with Jesus frees me up to love God, love others and to live out His Word. We don’t live for God out of fear but we live for God out of love and gratitude.
Praise/Prayer
Thank God for the promises in 1 John 4:7-11 and let this be your prayer today.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. “
FREE TO LOVE
Kathleen’s two daughters were having a discussion about family resemblance. “I look like Mom,” said the nine-year-old. “But I have dad’s eyes and dad’s lips,” The six-year-old said, “And I look just like dad, but I have light hair.” Then the six-year-old turned to Kathleen. “Mom,” she asked, “what does dad have to do with us being born anyway?” The older sister jumped right in. “Don’t be stupid, Christina. Dad is the one who drove Mom to the hospital.”
Like it or not dads have something to do with why we are all here. Yesterday, we mentioned the word “father” which was used 13 times in this passage. In John 8:42, Jesus taught that one of the ways to know if God was your Father was your love for His Son. 1 John 5:1-3 teaches:
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”
Reflection
A relationship with Jesus frees me up to love God, love others and to live out His Word. We don’t live for God out of fear but we live for God out of love and gratitude.
Praise/Prayer
Thank God for the promises in 1 John 4:7-11 and let this be your prayer today.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. “
Friday
“When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” - John 8:44 NIV
FREE FROM THE LIES
Years ago there was a study titled, “The Day America Told the Truth.” It revealed that we are a culture of liars. This study reported that “91% of us lie regularly. The majority of us find it hard to get through a week without lying. One in five can’t make it through a single day and we’re talking about conscious, premeditated lies....” The authors of the study concluded that “Lying has become a cultural trait in America. Lying is embedded in our national character. The majority of Americans today (two out of three) believe there is nothing wrong with telling a lie. Only 31% of us believe honesty is the best policy.”
In John 8:44, Jesus began to describe what the devil was like. One of his traits is that he is a liar. Not only did he teach the devil was a liar, but he also taught the devil was the father of all lies. In the context of the conversation about spiritual fatherhood, Jesus taught the reason they were lying was because the devil was their father.
Reflection
God takes lying very seriously. God will always tell us the truth and He will always tell us the truth in love. Have you gotten in the habit of telling little white lies or even big lies? As a follower of Christ, we also have the freedom to hear truth and to speak truth.
Praise/Prayer
Praise Jesus for always telling and being the Truth. Ask God today to remind you of truth and fill you with truth. Ask God to help you today to honor Him by sharing the truth in love.
FREE FROM THE LIES
Years ago there was a study titled, “The Day America Told the Truth.” It revealed that we are a culture of liars. This study reported that “91% of us lie regularly. The majority of us find it hard to get through a week without lying. One in five can’t make it through a single day and we’re talking about conscious, premeditated lies....” The authors of the study concluded that “Lying has become a cultural trait in America. Lying is embedded in our national character. The majority of Americans today (two out of three) believe there is nothing wrong with telling a lie. Only 31% of us believe honesty is the best policy.”
In John 8:44, Jesus began to describe what the devil was like. One of his traits is that he is a liar. Not only did he teach the devil was a liar, but he also taught the devil was the father of all lies. In the context of the conversation about spiritual fatherhood, Jesus taught the reason they were lying was because the devil was their father.
Reflection
God takes lying very seriously. God will always tell us the truth and He will always tell us the truth in love. Have you gotten in the habit of telling little white lies or even big lies? As a follower of Christ, we also have the freedom to hear truth and to speak truth.
Praise/Prayer
Praise Jesus for always telling and being the Truth. Ask God today to remind you of truth and fill you with truth. Ask God to help you today to honor Him by sharing the truth in love.
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