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Monday, July 4, 2005

"True Freedom"

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Today is the Fourth of July and a very special day here in America.  Today we celebrate our national independence.  For most of us it's a holiday and later we will have our Amish neighbors over for a picnic and go on a hike together.

But this morning I am aware that this devotional perspective goes all over the world and in many places July 4 is just another day.  Readers live under various degrees of political freedom.

So today I want to share about a freedom that is available to all that is infinitely greater than any political freedoms we may or may not enjoy for the present. One hundred or one thousand years into eternity I suspect that where we lived during our brief earthly sojourn will be of little regard.

In John 8 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day who had challenged His authority.  The encounter specifically began when Jesus asserted, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).  The Pharisees challenged Jesus and the validity of His testimony and of course that has been at the heart of resistance to God's redemption plan ever since.

The blessed are those who "hold" to His teaching and they are truly His disciples (v. 31).  Jesus said to them (and us) "you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).  This especially insulted the proud Pharisees who responded, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" (v. 34). 

But Jesus was speaking of a slavery that impacts the entire human race, from the richest to the poorest, from the most powerful to the weakest, from the most brilliant to the dullest, from the most politically free to the most oppressed.  Slavery to sin!  And this is the very slavery that Jesus came to free us from. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Today, my friend, are you free indeed?


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

We sure enjoy our friendship with our Amish neighbors and the other day he shared an observation about me that you might get a chuckle out of. We were on a trip with a Hispanic man who works for Jesse, my Amish friend.  I struck up a conversation with him trying to get better acquainted. Later he described me to Jesse as a man that has "lots of happy."  I took this to mean that he apparently saw joy in my life!

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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