John 8:31-42
Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you. I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence; then do what you have heard from the Father."
They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this. You are doing the works of your father!" So they said to him, "We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for those who are not free because of unjust acts, that they are comforted by the freedom today's reading calls us to today.
"The Truth will set you free..."
Jesus didn't say that, "The Truth will make you popular" or "The Truth will make you rich." He does not call us to these things because each of these things, in a sense, is a form of slavery.
Rather, He calls us to be transformed...
"I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2
Satan knows scripture more than we will ever be able to. He wants us to be conformed to this age. He helps you grow complacent as you look at your life and how it's "counter-cultural" yet still "conformed to this age". If he cannot have the power of God, he will use what power he has to keep us as slaves. His power is lies, and it is only through The Truth that we can be transformed from slaves of darkness to free brothers and sisters in Christ.
Pray that your eyes are opened to seeing how Satan is lying in your life. Then, come to Our Lord and offer these struggles to Our Lord, Who is The Truth, and Who will set us free. Take care and God Bless.
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