Wednesday 25th October
Read John 8:33-37
“They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’
34 Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it for ever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.” (NIVUK)
Freedom, true freedom, involves following Jesus and His word – believing the gospel. Jesus doesn’t challenge the assertion that they are Abraham’s ‘seed’ because it is a distraction from the real issue. The issue is that if freedom is only found in relationship to Jesus, their desire to kill Him is entirely at odds with maintaining that relationship. Even worse, they can’t stomach any of His words that might challenge their privileged position. On both counts they reveal they are in bondage. They are slaves. It is only the free gift offered by Jesus – adoption – that breaks this Gordian knot.
Paul explains the same thing to the Roman church: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:12-16) (NIVUK)
Consider how you pray. Do you pray as a supplicant or as a child? With fear or boldness? Do you pray out of your freedom with thankfulness or do you ask not expecting answers at all? Prayer reveals much about who we are.
