There is more to living free than know freedom exists.
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John 8:31-32 – Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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Don’t take the title of today’s Second Miler lightly. If we are to know the freedom of which our Lord spoke in this verse, we must recognize that there are indeed five steps to achieve this wonderful place of joy and freedom in the Lord. To determine what those five steps are, we must consider precisely what our Text for Today says. Let’s consider them closely.
- Jesus was speaking to “those Jews which believed on Him.” The short of this step is that we MUST BELIEVE ON HIM. It’s just that simple. One who does not believe will never know this freedom.
- If ye continue in My Word – Note the word “If.” Here is an absolutely necessary condition any believer must meet if he/she is to move forward in the process of being made free. It signifies something indefinite. IF you do, you reap the benefits indicated. IF you don’t, your do not reap the benefits indicated. To “continue in” is to endure, persist, and take up residence in the Word. The Word becomes your dwelling place in which you rest, where you reside, and from which you generally take nourishment.
- Then are ye My disciples indeed – The word “disciple” means a disciplined one. Please note that in truth, you cannot discipline anyone but yourself. One may correct a child, even punish a child. But discipline is ALWAYS something that is self-imposed on a person through determined will. One MUST have the will to be a disciple.
- And ye shall know the truth – It is only by disciplining one’s self to “continue in” the Word of God that one comes to know the truth. To “know” the Word of God means to be resolved, to be sure of, to know, and understand. It is a deep word of extreme value. In this case, it means that one cannot know that to which one has disciplined one’s self.
- And the truth shall make you free – While this is a simple statement to make, it may not be so simple to attain to it. One must never think that the truth shall make you free. Such thinking is erroneous and much too broad in its reach. The truth that will make one free is the truth of God’s Word, and even then it is limited to the truth you know. If you don’t know it, it will NOT make you free.
Take a moment and re-read our Text for Today with these five insights. To know the truth of God’s Word is a wondrous thing fill with benefits far more numerous and weighted with glory than the natural mind can conceive. This freedom is truly full of joy unspeakable and glory.
Manna for Today – John 8:31-38; Joshua 1:6-9; Proverbs 4:20-23; Luke 1:37; Psalm 103:1-
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My Second Miler by Dr. Beechard Moorefield 