LIBERATING TRUTH!

LIBERATING TRUTH!

John 8:32-34

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

          Truth is power! It means we can, and should, stop running after falsehood. Mirrors do not make us beautiful they point out our ugliness so that changes can be made. Jesus is speaking to religious Jews. Proud they were and covered in their robes and charms.

          Their claim of never being in bondage to any man was ridiculously proud and false. They had been in bondage to Egypt for hundreds of years. They had been conquered by Syria, Philistia and Babylon and were even now paying taxes to and cowering from the iron fist of Rome. Pride is the enemy of truth!

          Unable to pierce their pride Jesus says, “Let me put it another way. Whosoever committeth sin is a servant of sin.” That vile, selfish, vulgar and wicked thing that you run after is actually chasing you. Once you have caught it – you have been caught. Sin sticks like thistle burrs in a woolen sock. Easy to attract and nearly impossible to remove! 

          Sitting at a formal table with honored guests in fine and formal dress, how does one point out that there is sauce on their chin? Well, it must be done carefully and lovingly. It must be done not to point out the smudge but so that it can be removed. The purpose is not to point out the indignity of it but to restore honor. So it is when telling someone of their faults. There is an offending smudge and it needs to be removed.

Eph 4:11-15

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Dear Lord, when I point out the truth to others help me to do it carefully and lovingly. When confronted with the truth about myself, help me not to respond in stubborn pride. AMEN