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"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. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'" (John 8:31-36 ESV)
My family laughs at this reading every time it comes up. These are Jewish people Jesus is talking to, descendants of the slaves God rescued from Egypt—and they have the nerve to say, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone"? Or maybe they're being super-literal, and referring only to their own personal lives. But in that case, what about the Romans, who were ruling their country and making them do whatever they wanted?
But we really don't have the right to laugh—because every human being is born into slavery to sin, myself included. If you doubt it, make a resolution to live absolutely perfectly, just for 24 hours. If you get through the first hour without a single sin—even a prideful thought!—well, all I can say is, you must have been asleep.
The good thing is, Jesus has compassion on us. He sees the sins that entangle us—the bad attitudes, the damaging habits, the shameful behaviors that we don't want anyone else to know about—and His heart goes out to us. He wants to set us free. And that's something He can do! Because Jesus is the Son of God's house, and He has the authority to forgive our sins and set us free. Anyone He sets free is free indeed.
But what then? Do we just walk out the door and become beggars in the street—free, but totally unable to support ourselves? No, absolutely not. Because Jesus has made us, too, to become children of God, adopted into His family and living in His house. The Son of God gave Himself for us, dying and rising again so that everyone who trusts in Him will live forever. And we will be with Jesus, who loves us and has made us His own.
We Pray: Lord, I have been a slave. Thank You for setting me free, and making me Your own. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on October 25, 2024
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights
Reflection Questions:
1. What kinds of sin seem the most like slavery to you? Why?
2. Why don't people want to admit they can't free themselves of some problem?
3. How have you seen Jesus setting you free in your own personal life?
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