DAY 8
SEPTEMBER 22, 2024
SEPTEMBER 22, 2024
MY FREEDOM
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:34-36
When I was 12 I remember thinking “when I’m a teenager I will have freedom to stay up later at night and watch late night TV or have extra time to play video games like teenagers do.” Then when I was 14 I thought “when I get my driver’s license I can go where I want when I want.” Bad wrong about that one. When I was 17 my sights were set on college where I envisioned living away from home for the first time as being ultimate “freedom.” This pattern continued until I became an adult and finally realized that age has little to do with true freedom. I couldn’t find freedom on my own and the more I chased it, the more I became enslaved to sin and the emptiness that goes along with it. Even now I find myself looking forward to retirement at some point and thinking I will have freedom to travel with my wife and do what we want to do.
I’m reminded by the Holy Spirit that freedom is not about God blessing my plans, but instead about what He is doing around me and being willing to join Him. Jesus understood that freedom came through obedience to the Father. The Father sent the Son to free us from sin and the Son sends us into the world with this message of freedom that only He can provide. It is up to us to decide if we will declare Him Lord and embrace the freedom that He offers or remain oppressed in bondage to the evil one.
CONSIDER THIS:
Read: John 8:31-38
PRAY: This passage promises the truest form of freedom that we can possibly experience. Is there anything preventing you from trusting God to set you free? Pray for a higher level of trust in Him right now.
When I was 12 I remember thinking “when I’m a teenager I will have freedom to stay up later at night and watch late night TV or have extra time to play video games like teenagers do.” Then when I was 14 I thought “when I get my driver’s license I can go where I want when I want.” Bad wrong about that one. When I was 17 my sights were set on college where I envisioned living away from home for the first time as being ultimate “freedom.” This pattern continued until I became an adult and finally realized that age has little to do with true freedom. I couldn’t find freedom on my own and the more I chased it, the more I became enslaved to sin and the emptiness that goes along with it. Even now I find myself looking forward to retirement at some point and thinking I will have freedom to travel with my wife and do what we want to do.
I’m reminded by the Holy Spirit that freedom is not about God blessing my plans, but instead about what He is doing around me and being willing to join Him. Jesus understood that freedom came through obedience to the Father. The Father sent the Son to free us from sin and the Son sends us into the world with this message of freedom that only He can provide. It is up to us to decide if we will declare Him Lord and embrace the freedom that He offers or remain oppressed in bondage to the evil one.
CONSIDER THIS:
Read: John 8:31-38
- Has your view of freedom changed throughout your life?
- Do you allow the world to dictate your definition of freedom?
- Do you seek to join God in what He is doing in the world or do you ask Him to bless your plans?
PRAY: This passage promises the truest form of freedom that we can possibly experience. Is there anything preventing you from trusting God to set you free? Pray for a higher level of trust in Him right now.