The God Pause Daily Devotional from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 26 October 2017 - John 8:31-36

The God Pause Daily Devotional from The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Thursday, 26 October 2017 - John 8:31-36
---
John 8:31 So Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted him, “If you obey what I say, then you are really my talmidim, 32 you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered, “We are the seed of Avraham and have never been slaves to anyone; so what do you mean by saying, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Yeshua answered them, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. 35 Now a slave does not remain with a family forever, but a son does remain with it forever. 36 So if the Son frees you, you will really be free!(Complete Jewish Bible)
---
"We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone." Those who question Jesus on this matter of slavery seem to have forgotten their past. We also often make that same mistake. The assumption that freedom is without limit fails to recall the past we prefer to ignore, but our confession brings that image of enslavement back to mind: "We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves."
often feel held back, limited by my abilities, trapped by circumstances of time and energy, unable to respond freely because of the constraints I feel. I confess that sometimes I use that as an excuse. But our Lord's call is that we "continue" in the word, that we step out in faith, that we follow where the Lord leads and that we live into the truth that is freeing us for a purpose we can barely begin to imagine.
May your strong word set us free so that we may be ready, willing and able to respond to you and to those who need us most; through Jesus Christ, our liberating Lord. Amen.
Tim Christensen, '94
Pastor, Gold Hill Evangelical Lutheran Church, Butte, Mont.
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free'?"
34 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.
36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.(New Revised Standard Version)

------- 

The Luther Seminary

2481 Como Avenue

St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States

Telephone: (651)641-3456-

-------