Bible Verse of the Day Sunday June 4th, 2023

John 8:31-32 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

There are very few things that people covet more than freedom. Some are willing to die for it, many pray for it, and most folks strive for it. Moreover, knowing the truth is only attainable by living in obedience to Christ Jesus through the Word of God. Truth is not only something we believe or advocate; it is something we do; it is a way of life we choose. Only by following the truth of Christ Jesus will we experience total freedom.

Many today spend excessive time and energy trying to prove God does not exist and Jesus was just a legend passed down through the generations. However, vibrant faith leads to spiritual growth in Christ, and growing followers of Jesus spend their time engaging in the truth that is Jesus. Becoming a maturing believer in Jesus will happen only when we apply the truth and revelation of Christ Jesus to our own experience.

Our salvation does not come from faith alone; what we place our faith in determines our eternal future. If one places their faith and trust in the world's ways, seeking after its riches, their future is a cold dark grave, with an eternity separated from Christ Jesus for eternity. However, if we turn our backs on the ways and riches of the world and place our faith and trust in Jesus, we will be able to look forward to a glorious life in a beautiful place called Heaven. Holding on to the teachings of Jesus means that we welcome it into our lives; it will become part of who and what we are, and it becomes an undeviating influence and stimulates our every thought and action.

This truth results from remaining in Christ Jesus; we demonstrate ourselves to be His followers and know the truth, and God applies His freedom in and through our life with His truth. The freedom Jesus spoke of doesn't come from just an academic pursuit of truth in general; but from abiding in His Word and being His disciple. There is nothing like the freedom we can have in Jesus. No money can buy it, no status can obtain it, no work can earn it, and nothing can match it. Tragically, not every Christian experiences this freedom, which we cannot find except by abiding in God's word and being Jesus' disciple. We hold to the teaching of God's Word because God loves us and knows better than us what is best for our lives.

Living in the freedom of Jesus is found in hearing and abiding by the teachings of Jesus. Christ has freed us from this world in that he has come from above, revealing there is more to life than the things this world has to offer. While the truth is this world is not unimportant, neither is it final or ultimate. In Christ, we live for the world to come – we store treasures, not on earth, but in Heaven, the world no longer rules over us.