Friday May 13, 2022

Today is Friday, May 13th and this week we are exploring being sanctified in God’s truth.

As I enter this time of prayer, I pause to become still. I calm my thoughts and silence my mind as I focus on the God who loves me.

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, here I am. I long to spend time with you and know you more. Give me an awareness of your presence now and through the rest of my day by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

I rejoice in what the Lord has done with the words of Psalm 105.

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Psalm 105:1-4

Pause and Pray

Jewish religious leaders and their followers often disagreed about who Jesus really was. Jesus claimed to be “the light of the world” (John 8:12), the truth that shows us how to remove the darkness of sin in our lives. People misunderstood Jesus because they interpreted his teachings through their limited point of view. The Jewish people had been through slavery in Egypt, oppression by other nations, and years of captivity. They were free to live according to their beliefs as long as they submitted to Roman rule. The Jewish leaders thought they were free. They could not understand the bondage of sin and spiritual freedom that Jesus taught.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. John 8:31-34

The slavery that Jesus warns the Jewish people about still applies to me today. I am free to practice my own beliefs, but just like them, I suffer from the bondage of sin. The only way I can experience true freedom is to know the truth, which is found by seeking God and abiding in his Word. His Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path (Psalm 119:105). The freedom Jesus offers goes beyond freeing me from the penalty of sin; it sets me free from the power of sin. As I am sanctified in God’s truth, I am free to know him more deeply, obey his Word, and delight in his ways.

Ask: What sin am I practicing that has me enslaved? What bondage do I need freedom from?

Pause and Pray

Lord God, you are the Light of the World. You offer me freedom from the sin that holds me captive. Thank you for your mercy and grace that you extend to me even though I don’t deserve it. Help me to abide in your Word. Help me to know your truth. Lead me to the freedom that can only be found through your son, Jesus. I reread the words from John and seek your message for me today.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. John 8:31-34

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

I consider the words that grab my attention today. Which words resonate with me the most – abide, truth, enslaved, sin, or free? Perhaps God wants me to know his Word more intimately. Maybe God wants to reveal to me what I am enslaved to and just don’t see. Perhaps God wants to show me what freedom truly is.

Pause and Pray

Come Lord Jesus, speak your truth into my heart and mind. Expose my sin so that I may repent and carry on in joyful obedience to you. Come rescue me and bring me to safety into your loving presence. Amen.

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Psalm 119:105

As I leave this time of prayer, I go seeking to be set apart from the world by knowing and living in accordance with God’s true word.

Amen