July 5 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

John 8:25-36:

²⁵Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
²⁶I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
²⁷They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
²⁸Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
²⁹And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
³⁰As he spake these words, many believed on him.
³¹Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
³²And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
³³They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
³⁴Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
³⁵And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
³⁶If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Devotional

The natural man is not free, because he knows not the truth. True liberty is found only where the principles of the Word of God hold sway. The natural man wants to be free to do as he pleases. And by doing as he pleases he brings himself more and more into bondage. He is the servant of sin. He not only brings himself into bondage, but in the pursuit of his goal he oppresses others and deprives them of their liberty. The result is that whole nations are enslaved spiritually and outwardly. Witness dictators and their enslaved subjects. What terrible slavery! All because the truth of God is not known.

Freedom from bondage of sin as well as political freedom can come only through a knowledge and acceptance of the truth of God as revealed in his Word. "If ye continue in my word," says Christ, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Christ through his word brings people from the bondage of sin into "the glorious liberty of the children of God." "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

And where God's Word reigns among a people there will be no dictatorship. Righteousness will be established and the result will be peace. "The work of righteousness shall be peace."

Oh, that peoples and nations in their distress and helplessness would seek the truth of God in his Word; that truth would make them free.

Prayer

O God, we thank Thee that Thou hast sent Thy Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to be our great Liberator, that He was bound that we might be loosed from our sins, and be forever free. Grant unto us that we may serve Thee without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Thee, all the days of our life. We ask it for Christ's sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: John 8:31, 32; Rom. 8:21; John 8:36; Isa. 32:17.

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