FREE INDEED!

SCRIPTURE

Reformation Day
John 8:31-36 (NRSV)

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 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'?"
Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.


DEVOTION

Today is a very exciting day in protestant churches; you will probably notice a lot of people wearing red as a result. It is Reformation Sunday--a day set aside to remember the move of God's Spirit on the heart of Martin Luther.

If you are not Catholic, you owe a debt of gratitude to Martin Luther. For it was Martin Luther who began the reformation that led to all other Christian denominations.

The spirit of the reformation is that of freedom! We are reminded that in Christ we are set truly free! We are not slaves to people, institutions, or even our own sin. Rather, we are set free in Christ to fully experience God's Amazing Grace!

I love Ephesians 2: 8-9 which states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Isn't it wonderful good news that salvation is a work of God and not of man? We are saved by faith alone in Jesus Christ!

This faith sets us free to express our gratitude through kind and loving deeds toward others; but we must always remember that our good deeds are not a means of securing our pardon or "purchasing" a ticket to get into heaven, rather they are a reasonable response to God's great love!

I am so thankful for God's love revealed to us in Christ Jesus! I am so thankful that I am set free by Christ because of God's Amazing Grace. And I am so thankful for the spirit of reformation which encourages me to read my own Bible, reflect deeply on God's Word, and cling tightly to my personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ!

God is so good and freedom is so sweet! Hallelujah!


Let us pray: Thank you God for setting me free in Christ! Thank you for Jesus' life, death, and resurrection which made atonement for my sin and gifts me with eternal life! Thank you for the words that you spoke to Martin Luther so many years ago. Thank you for his reformist spirit that would not let him be quiet even in the face of great persecution. Help me to be so bold. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

LISTEN

SCRIPTURE

John 8:39-47 (NRSV)

True children of Abraham

They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does." They said to him, "We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God."

DEVOTION--Today is Saturday Psalmody; the mediation is offered as a psalm from my heart! If you would like a more traditional devotion, please search the archives for a title that appeals to you! (smile)


LISTEN

He says we're deaf.
What did you say?
He says we're deaf.
What's that now?
He says we're deaf.
We cannot hear.
We do not listen.
How's that again?
Deaf, I say!
He says we're deaf
and dumb
and devils...
What now?
I cannot hear you!
Thus, I will not believe...
What's that?
Take my fingers out of my ears?!
HUMPH
what did you say?

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Walk in the Light

SCRIPTURE

John 8:12-19 (NRSV)

I am the light

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." Then the Pharisees said to him, "You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid." Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf." Then they said to him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also."

DEVOTION

On this New Year’s Eve, I am deeply comforted by Jesus’ statement, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

This statement comforts me because I am well aware of the fact that I—like many others—will make New Year’s resolutions on this evening. I will set goals and make plans regarding what I think should happen to me, and to my family, in 2010.

Some of my goals will be realized; others will not. I must confess to you that I actually have a New Year’s Resolution that has appeared on every list since 1994. Shame on me! Perhaps this will be the year! (giggle)

It is clear to me that although I “see through a glass dimly,” God does not! Jesus is the light of the world and is generous enough to cast that light abundantly into my life (and yours) on a daily basis!

As a result, we don’t have to stumble around in the darkness. We don’t have to live confused and dismayed. We don't have to wonder if anyone loves or cares about us! We don't have to do any of these things because Jesus has promised to be Light unto our path and to unconditionally love us no matter where it is that we may go!

I don't know about you, but I am so glad that there is no path that is too dark for our God. There are no stops on our journey that Spirit did not anticipate.

No matter who you are--or what you've done--you can't out sin, outfox, or outrun the love of God that has been revealed to us through Christ Jesus!

Since this is uncategorically true, I want to invite you to step into the Light. JESUS is the Light; the Light of the World!

If you do not have a personal relationship with GOD, it is time. It is no accident that you are reading this blog today. I believe that God led you to this place and time in order to tell you that God loves you so much that God gave Jesus to die on the cross to save you from your sin and gift you with eternal life. Jesus did not stay dead but was resurrected on the third day, just as he promised that he would!

When we put all of our hope in Jesus and in this good news message, believing it with all our heart and soul, we are saved!

Becoming a Christian is not rocket science. You don't have to do any hocus pocus, jump through any hoops, or complete any impossible feats. JESUS has already done all of the hard work for you; all you have to do is believe that Jesus died for you and is willing and able to forgive all of your sin and shortcomings.

I can’t think of a better way to enter 2010 than with the blessed assurance that your sin is forgiven and your eternal life secure.

Won’t you please pray with me?

Gracious God, thank you that Jesus is the Light of the world! Today I am putting all of my hope in Jesus. I believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again on the third day to make atonement for my sin and to gift me with eternal life. Thank you for such Amazing Grace and Unconditional Love. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I will be able to walk in the Light in 2010. I love you and I will share our love with others. I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SPECIAL NOTE

If you just prayed that prayer for the first time, today, you are saved! Let me encourage you to tell a Christian friend that you just put all of your hope in Jesus. Ask him or her to help you find a Bible that is easy for you to understand and to find a good Bible believing church where you can be baptized and make new friends who will walk with you on your Christian journey!

I would be honored if you would let me know about your decision today by clicking "YES" in the poll located in the upper-right hand corner of the good news blog in answer to the question, "Did God save you today?"

Congratulations and Happy Re-birthday! Your salvation is our GOOD NEWS, please go and share the GOOD NEWS with others!

FREE INDEED!

SCRIPTURE

John 8:31-36 (NRSV)

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 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'?"
Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

MEDITATION—Today is Saturday Psalmody; the mediation is offered as a psalm from my heart! If you would like a more traditional devotion, please search the archives for a title that appeals to you! (smile)

FREE INDEED

I was slave.

Slave to sin.

Bound for the grave.

Never to rise again.

But my King

He died for me

He took the sting

Rose in victory!

Truth I know

Has set me free

And-whom the Son sets free

THE INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html