Welcome to Day 161 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about finding nourishment in the Word of God to get us through the day. In each devotional, I take a variety of scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses each) and build our understanding of what they teach via their context and connecting scripture. My goal is to help you understand how to be the type of human God created you to be. Today’s passage is John 8:31-32.

John 8:31-32

NASB	NLT	VOICE
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples;	31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.	31 If you hear My voice and abide in My word, you are truly My disciples;
32 and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”	32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”	32 you will know the truth, and that truth will give you freedom.

Jesus himself is the truth that sets us free. He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. This is why we are often called to reflect our lives as he lived, following the principles he set for us. He frees us from the continued slavery to sin, from self-deception, and from deception by Satan. Jesus’ defeat of death, health, and evil allows us to be forgiven of our sinful desires and actions and gives us a place for a right relationship with God. He shows us the clear path to eternal life, through believing in his sacrifice and the power of who he is.

Jesus doesn’t give us freedom to pursue harmful actions or dangerous beliefs but freedom to have new and overflowing life as we follow him. As we look to serve God, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that he created us. We do have free will in live to go out and live the life we were created. God wants us to live according to his standards, but we will be tempted to live in the ways that the world will decide. Jesus will never force us to live his way but encourages us deeply to live his way and emphasizes what life could be like without his presence and teachings in our life.

Romans 8:2

NASB	NLT	VOICE
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.	2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.	2 because when you live in the Anointed One, Jesus, a new law takes effect. The law of the Spirit of life breathes into you and liberates you from the law of sin and death.

The life-giving Spirit mentioned here is the Holy Spirit. As the third person of the Trinity, he was present at the creation of the world and is the power behind every baptism and rebirth of every Christian. He gives us the power to live the Christian life. I’ve referred to the Holy Spirit as that extra burst of energy. That source of being able to do something that you feel like you can’t. The ability to realize that you did something and didn’t overthink it. The ability to do something with the Holy Spirit guiding you.

2 Corinthians 3:17

NASB	NLT	VOICE
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.	17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.	17 By “the Lord’ what I mean is the Holy Spirit, and in any heart where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is liberty.

Those who were trying to be saved by keeping the Old Testament law were soon tied up in rules and ceremonies. But now, through the Holy Spirit, God provides freedom from sin, condemnation, and fear of death. To my fellow Christians that read this, listen to that again. When you go around quoting the Old Testament laws to condemn the lives of current Christians and non-Christians, the Old Testament rule-following will not find us salvation. Because we believe in the sacrifice of Jesus and the sovereignty of who he is, the Holy Spirit allows us to have freedom from sin and condemnation. Allowing us to have a right relationship with God.

When we trust Christ to save us, he removes our heavy burden of trying to please him and our guilt for not doing so. He frees us from shame, self-hatred, addiction, and dead-end pursuits. Those things come from the evil forces of the world. God replaces those things in us with love, acceptance, forgiveness, and freedom to live for him as he created us to live.

Galatians 5:1

NASB	NLT	VOICE
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.	1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.	1 So stand strong for our freedom! The Anointed One freed us so we wouldn’t spend one more day under the yoke of slavery, trapped under the law.

Jesus died to set free from both sin and the long list (613+) of laws and regulations. He did not free us from them so that we could do whatever we wanted. That freedom causes us to lean into the temptations of the world and follow our sinful desires. Through Christ, we are free to do what was impossible before – to live a life that extends God’s love and compassion to those around us in an unselfish and self-sacrificing manner.

Those who use their freedom to do whatever sounds good to them, are falling back to their sinful desires. It’s also wrong to put a heavy burden of law keeping on Christian. We must stand up against those that want to enslave us with rules or special conditions for being saved or growing in Christ. Be mindful if you’re in a denomination or religious community. Each community, while inherently safe, may provide a set of beliefs or rules that may make you feel trapped or uncomfortable. Don’t stay there if you hear that still, small voice telling you too that it’s okay to move.

Galatians 5:13

NASB	NLT	VOICE
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.	13 For you have been called to live freedom my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another.	13 Brothers and sisters, God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil this gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires; instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love.

Paul distinguishes between the freedom to sin and the freedom to serve. Freedom to sin offers no real freedom. Why? It slaves us to the evil, ungodly desires to the world. Freedom to sin chains us to desires that are always wanting more than we gave from us and makes us desperate to please those desires beyond our means. Christians are free to do what God wants. We are free to share his glory to everyone by showing the same loving, compassionate, and self-sacrificing to God.

Next slice of Manna: Manna for the Mind #162