Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Listen to the Word

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   (John 8:31-32)

In our Scripture today, Jesus delineates the path that leads to freedom. He gives an if/then statement, making it clear that being free is contingent on other things happening first. He says in order to be free, we must know the truth. Real freedom has to have a solid, sure foundation – it can’t be built on falsehood or deceit. But he says that knowing the truth is also contingent on something else. In order to know the truth, we must be Jesus’ disciples. The ability to know the truth is a byproduct of a life connected to Jesus. But being Jesus’ disciple is also contingent on something else. In order to be his disciples, we must hold to his teaching – we must do what he says. If we don’t do what he says, then we aren’t actually his disciples in any meaningful way. We may be his admirers or his fans, but disciples must trust him enough to obey him.

So Jesus says that doing what he says leads to true discipleship, which leads to knowing the truth, which leads to freedom. Freedom is the destination you reach by walking down the path of obeying Jesus.

Live the Word

Is there something you believe Jesus wants you to do that you have been avoiding? Do it today, as an act of obedience to him, and see what kind of freedom will be the outcome.