Week of February 21, 2010
John 8:31-36
Thank God I am Free At Last!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22 <Read James 2:18-26>
Even as He spoke, many put their faith in Him. John 8:30
Biblical faith is not assenting mentally to a set of doctrines or claims. Biblical faith requires not only a belief that He is who He said He is; it also requires a personal commitment to Him and a promise to follow Him as best we can. Apparently there were some Judeans who believed Jesus to some extent, yet they held back from committing themselves. In the end, some of the same Judeans would pick up stones to throw at Jesus (v.59). Many people today believe in Jesus to some degree. Most people believe He lived. Others believe He performed miracles. Still others believe He rose from the dead and answered prayers. Yet many have never given their lives to Him, much less try to follow Him. James tells us that mere belief means nothing in the end. Even the demons have that kind of faith. Faith that is important in God’s sight is faith that acts. Faith that is real is faith that loves. Faith that saves is faith that follows.
Prayer: Work in me now that I may never doubt You as the truthful, mighty faithful God; work in me that I may work for You and bring glory to You with all that I do. Amen.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 <Read Luke 15:11-32>
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
There is a wonderful parable about a violin (I do not know the author’s name) that goes something like this, “I have on my table a violin string. It is free to move in any direction I like. If I twist it on end, it will move in any direction, but it is not free to sing. If I take it and fix it on my violin, I bind it and when it is bound, it is free for the first time to sing.” Much of the world’s definition of freedom is simply to do as we please, but in the world real freedom finds its genesis in responsibility, surrender and discipline. An athlete can only find the freedom to run as fast as he desires through discipline. A musician can only find the freedom to play if she will submit to hours of practice. The same is true for our faith. The first paradox of God’s freedom is that we can only get it through surrender. To have real faith in Jesus means to give Him our lives and trust Him with them and then God frees us from the consequences of our rebellion and sin. The second paradox is that faith and the freedom that comes with it is proven and grows through the continual submission of obedience. What Jesus says to those who initially believe in Him, He says to us as well. You really are my followers if you do what I say. Your faith is real if you do my will.
Prayer: “Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still. Amen.
(“Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration, #371)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 <Read Romans 7:21-25>
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. John 8:33, 34
Freedom was a huge topic in Jesus’ day and continues to be in ours. The people in Jesus’ time trusted in their ancestry for freedom. Freedom was their birthright because they were descendants of Abraham. For modern human beings, the emphasis is quite different. For our time, the argument runs something like this: “Human beings are bound but basically good. If we can break the chains that bind us: morality, poverty, ignorance, religion or corrupt institutions, then the basic goodness of human beings will triumph and we will be free. Jesus refutes both these ideas. For Him, there is a power much worse than any Roman domination or any ignorance or corrupt institution, and neither trust in ancestry nor human efforts to shape their own institutions and attitudes will deal with it. His argument is simple. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Everyone sins. Therefore, everyone is a slave. Ancestry is not a bad thing in itself nor are the efforts to deal with corruption, ignorance or other human problems, but in the end they do not deal with the power of sin that enslaves us all. That is why all need a savior, none other than Jesus Himself. Jesus deals with our sin on the cross by offering permanent forgiveness. He also gives us His Spirit which lives in us and works constantly against the sin that still resides in us. Finally, He gives us a living hope that one day the power and stain of sin will be defeated and we will be with Him forever and ever.
Prayer: Lord, let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots; Grant me to know that I truly live only when I live for You, and I am only free when I am free in You. Amen.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25 <Read John 1:12; Galatians 3:26 >
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:35-36
Pastor Steve Brown tells this modern parable: “If I were to hire someone to wash my dishes and they did not do a good job and left several dishes dirty, I might give them another chance or even two chances to make it right before I fire that person and send them on their way. On that day, the person would no longer be in my employment. If I ask my daughters to do the dishes and they did not do a good job, they never cease to be my daughters. They will always be my children and I would never cease to love them.” One of the most profound gifts given to us by our Lord when we surrender to Him is the gift of Sonship. That means that by faith, we have been made Children of God and brothers and sisters to Christ Himself. This fact changes the whole perspective of freedom and obedience. We obey not because we are like slaves trying to achieve or earn a place in God’s house or His love. We obey because we are free and already have that place as a gift, and because we love the one who first loved us.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for making me your child. Help me to obey less out of obligation or for what I can get out of it but rather, obey You more and more out of pure love for You. Amen.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 <Read Romans 8:9-17>
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:35-36
Someone described our earthly life like one of the World War II battles on an enemy held island. The marines would land and establish a beachhead. When that happened, victory was assured and would eventually come, but it took many long days and sometimes months of brutal battle to conquer the rest of the island. In many ways, we are that island. God has landed and has established His beachhead. We are His, and the victory is assured, but until we go to be with Him, battles are fought within us daily. The constant battle of obedience makes our lives on earth frustrating. All of us ride the roller coaster up and down, back and forth. Obedience, and the freedom that comes with it, seems to come inch by inch. That is one reason it is very appropriate to long for heaven, and the day when the internal battle will be over. On that day, we will be completely at peace because we will be completely obedient. On that day, you can truly shout: “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty, I am free at last!”
Prayer: Lord, help me remember that heaven is all love, all peace and all Joy true freedom: the end of believing, fasting, praying, mourning, humbling, watching and fearing. And lead me to it soon. Amen.