JOHN 8:31-32.
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
TO PONDER
Have you ever been accused of, or following self-reflection, found yourself being guilty of “going through the motions”? Whether in a relationship, your place of work, a voluntary role or even in caring or parental responsibilities, it can happen to anyone. “Going through the motions”; performing an action or task without conviction, genuine interest, effort, or emotional engagement. This implies the action(s) are being performed to fulfill an obligation or expectation. To find oneself “going through the motions” may happen for any number of reasons.
In many ways, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were guilty of this, being fixated on following tradition and religious law rather than living out Jesus’ love and sharing it with others. Their accusations of Jesus eating with the unclean or healing the sick and telling the healed paraplegic to pick up their mat on the Sabbath are real examples. The Pharisees did not hold to Jesus’ teachings, but rather religious rituals.
John 8, verse 31 and 32 challenges all believers not to simply be a hearer of Jesus’ word but a doer! A true disciple doesn’t passively just know and understand the word but rather embraces it, actively lets it take root in their heart allowing the word to transform them inside out. We hold to Jesus’ teachings when we actively participate and commit to fully integrating Him into every thought, word and deed of our daily life. We should not be guilty of “going through the motions!”
As true disciples, being set free is not a distant hope, but a present reality. Jesus has set us free from both sin and death! His actions (for you and me) allow us to live freely here on earth as His active, committed disciples right now, with the promise of life eternal with Him in Heaven to follow.
We are free!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. Thank You for sending Your son Jesus down to us to be crucified, to rise again, and to defeat sin and death once and for all. Keep me ever mindful that being set free is not a distant hope but a present reality thanks to Your love for me. Help me to live a Christ-like life in your name as evidence of my freedom for all to witness. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping