The truth will set you free

³¹To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³²Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:31-32 (NIV)

The truth will set you free. That's one of those truths that I hold on to. The truth will set you free. Period. Well, no, not exactly. If you hold to my teaching... Wait a minute. We have to do something before the truth sets us free? We can't just wily-nily be doing what we want and have the truth set us free? Nope. Not gonna happen. Jesus said we must hold to His teaching. That means we must know His teaching. The verb translated "hold to" here is menō which means to remain, abide, sojourn, tarry. We must be actively living in His Word. It must be an active part of our lives. We should be reading it every day. We should be letting it affect every area of our lives. We should let it influence every decision we make. We should be clinging to it. THEN we will be His disciples. THEN we will know the truth. THEN the truth will set us free. Are you free?

Did you notice who wasn't there?

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

John 8:7 (NIV)

They brought a woman accused of adultery to Jesus wanting Him to tell them it was OK to stone her. Did you notice who wasn't there? The Washington Post wasn't covering the story. Nor was the New York Times. Not CNN, MSNBC, or FoxNews. Not Huffington Post or DrudgeReport. Not Gawker. Not TMZ. Nope, our mainstream media completely missed out on this story. But did you see story on such-and-such about so-and-so? I'll send you the link. Ha, I can't believe what they've done! They deserve what's coming to them! Let him who is without sin... My sin? What do you mean? I'm just relaying something I saw on... It wasn't me saying anything in the first place. Shouldn't you be reproving the MSM for reporting salacious stories like this? What? How many fingers are pointing back at me? Come on, give me a break. There's a speck in your eye! Don't you know that! You expect me to get it out for you? Forget it! I'm not going to help you! (I can't because of this darn log in my eye.)

Who is Jesus?

⁴⁰On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet."
⁴¹Others said, "He is the Christ."
Still others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? ⁴²Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" ⁴³Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. ⁴⁴Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.

John 7:40-44 (NIV)

The people were arguing who Jesus was. They didn't know everything about Jesus and how He fulfilled the prophecies that they were questioning. People are still arguing over Jesus today. "He was a good man." "He was a good teacher." "He was a prophet." How can I, having been elightened by the Holy Spirit, reveal to those around me who He really is?

Cleaning House

I wrote yesterday of Josiah's responsive heart as he humbled himself before the Lord in repentence after the book of the covenant was discovered in the temple. 2 Kings 23 continues the story and shows how Josiah's responsive heart translated into actions. Perhaps there's something I can learn from what he did.

• He let everybody know. Josiah didn't stop at just himself reading the word. He had the book of the covenant read to all of the people. He knew this was important and was something that he had to share with others.
• He renewed his commitment to God. In verse 3 we see that he renewed the covenant "to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul." Repentence doesn't just stop at confession, it requires change and commitment.
• He cleaned house. Josiah had the priests remove everything from the temple that was dedicated to foreign gods. They didn't stop at just the temple, they went throughout the land tearing down anything that was dedicated to foreign gods. They weren't just throwing things out - things were "smashed" and "desecrated". Josiah was serious and not concerned with political correctness.
• He didn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. In verses 17 and 18, we read of Josiah encoutering the tomb of a prophet who was a man of God and had prophesied of the cleansing Josiah was doing. Josiah realized that his tombstone could be left intact.

Josiah was serious about cleaning the kingdom of all that was dedicated to foreign gods. He knew that a holy God demanded His people be holy also. He sought to remove all that wasn't dedicated to God and still to retain and preserve all that was dedicated to the true God.

Heavenly Father, help me to know when I need to clean house. Help me to be strong and diligent in removing all that is not dedicated to You. Help me also to preserve and cultivate all in my life that is dedicated to You. For Your glory. Amen.

Responsive Hearts

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.

2 Kings 22:19 (NIV)

Josiah was young when he became king. The kings before him didn't seek God. The people had turned away from God. They had forgotten the word of God... until it was found when they were renovating the temple. Josiah read it and realized how far the people had strayed from God. He humbled himself. He wept. He repented. The fruit of his repentence was that he didn't see the disaster God was to bring upon the people.

I haven't gone a long time without reading God's word. I read every day. In the morning on my own. At night with my kids. How do I react when I read the word and realize how far I have strayed from God? It's been a while since I've wept. I don't know that I've ever torn my clothes (at least on purpose). I'm pretty quiet with my repentence. I just need to make sure that I'm quick with my repentence when I find myself confronted by my sin.

Heavenly Father. Thank You that Your Word exposes my sin. Thank You that as I confess my sin You are faithful to forgive my sin and cleanse me from my unrighteousness. Help me to be responsive when convicted of my sin and to humble myself and turn to You. For Your glory. Amen.

Feed Me!

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

John 6:26 (NIV)

They tracked Him down. They realized He was no longer where He had fed them and they went looking for Him. They found Him. They hadn't understood the miracle. They were hungry AGAIN. Feed me, Jesus, feed me! "I am the Bread of Life" He said. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they said. Their stomachs were empty. They didn't understand He cared for their souls. When was the last time Jesus filled you up? Did the experience fill you or did you taste and see that the Lord is good? Were you left craving for that next meal or were you craving more of Jesus? A few hours later, did you find yourself heading to Five Guys to fill you up or can you declare like David in Psalm 63

¹ O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

³ Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 63:1-5 (NIV)

What are you afraid of?

So, what ARE you afraid of? Snakes? Heights? Falling off ladders? Crowds? Men walking on water in the middle of the night?

¹⁹When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. ²⁰But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." ²¹Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

John 6:19-21 (NIV)

The disciples had just had a busy day. They had fed 5,0000 men with just a little bit of food and then had to clean up the mess. Cleaning up after a family of four after dinner is enough work. Cleaning up after 5,000... I personally can't imagine it. The disciples must have been exhausted. They got in the boat to head to their next destination. Jesus stayed behind. A long day. Feeding a lot of people. Cleaning up after those people. Then rowing three and a half miles. Ugh! When will this day be over. What's that over there? Is that a ghost out over the water? The disciples were terrified. The Greek word phobeō is the word from which we derive our word phobia. They were scared. They were perhaps acting a little irrationally. What did Jesus tell them. "It is I. Don't be afraid." Jesus got in the boat with them. Boom. They reached their destination. Keep your eyes on Jesus - not on your circumstances. Let Him in your boat. Be not afraid. What, I ask again, are you afraid of?

Diligent Study

³⁹You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

John 5:39-40 (NIV)

In this passage Jesus is telling the people that the Scriptures point to Him. Despite all of their diligent study, they have failed to see the object of the Scriptures. They've read their Bibles, studied their commentaries, listened to their sermons and yet they haven't realized it's all about Jesus. They want eternal life. They read the Scriptures to point them to eternal life. Yet, they don't come to Jesus for eternal life. They are missing the point completely.

How often do I miss Jesus when I'm reading the Scriptures. How often do I, when I'm reading one of the "boring" passages in the Old Testament, fail to see that it's pointing to Jesus? At least I can say "not all the time." I do see Jesus in the Old Testament. By God's grace I can. Thank God!.

Dear God, I know that the Old Testament testifies to Jesus. Open my eyes that I might see Him proclaimed in Your Word. Help me to take that and proclaim to others so that they may see Him too. For Your glory, Amen.

Driving

The lookout reported, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman."

2 Kings 9:20 (NIV)

I don't have a fish on the back of my car. Nor do I have a "No God no peace, Know God know peace" bumper sticker or anything like that. I don't particularly want the person to know that I'm a Christian. I don't want them to think "The driving is like that of a Christian - he drives like a madman." I get cut off almost every day by cars with fish on them. I see cars with Christian bumper stickers blow by me on the highway when I'm already noticably over the speed limit. Seeing people who display their Christianity and drive like maniacs offends me. Maybe I'm offended because I do the same thing. That's why I don't have a fish on my car. Maybe, instead of being offended, I should drive in such a way that honors Christ. At least until I hear that traffic report that lets me know it's going to take more than an hour to get home. OK, even after I hear that traffic report that lets me know it's going to take two hours to get home.

Heavenly Father, help me to drive in such a way that it brings honor to You. Help me not to drive in a way that dishonors You. Help me to LIVE in a way that brings honor to You. Amen.

Because of His words

And because of his words many more became believers.

John 4:41 (NIV)

Jesus had spoken to the Samaritan women at the well and she believed because He had told her everything she had ever done. Many of her fellow Samaritans beleieved because of her testimony and they came out to listen to Jesus. It wasn't just the woman's story that led them to believe. They listened to Jesus. His words. His heart. Himself. Jesus, the Word that was from the beginning and came into the world. Jesus, the Word that was with God and was God. His Word.

Like the talk He had with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, this is another one of Jesus' speeches that isn't recorded in the Bible. He gave testimony to who He was and the Samaritans believed. Just like on the trip to Emmaus where He showed how the Old Testament pointed to Him. Yet, neither of the speeches are included in the Bible. Have you ever thought about how, if these speeches were included, you would understand Him better and be able to tell people about Him better? I have. I'd love to have those words in front of me. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Wouldn't I be more effective in my ministry if I could just point people to these speeches. Wouldn't my life be richer? I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Ok, so maybe I don't need those speeches. What Jesus said about himself is fairly clear. I need to take Him at His word and I need to take His word to those around me.

Jesus, thank You that Your Word changes people's hearts. Thank You that it is powerful and it accomplishes what You set it out to do. Help me to share it with others who need to be changed by it. Amen.