The Apostle John in hearing Jesus say “If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32-32). John then heard Jesus say in V-36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” In our study through the Epistle of 1 John we see John repeating this theme to the new converts. We know that it is the love of Christ that sets us free. Free to choose, free to say or do as we want. But the overwhelming thing is are we willing to choose His way of loving? “God is love” John exclaims and if we are to be His children then we are to love in His way, not as we please. Sometimes people are hard to love but then again so are we, so what right do I have to not love others? It is the issue of love that sets us free. Jesus paid the ultimate for you and for me so we could be free to choose Him. To often today we withhold love from others because of wrongs done to us. We harbor it because we feel we have a right. When we do that we are made slaves to that person and no longer are we free. We, in effect have made ourselves slaves to that person by that thing which we hold over them or against them. No longer is our walk in sync with the Lord & ultimately we are no longer free. Only when we seek to love as He loves will be become free from the hurt, and the anguish of daily life. Our worship will be limited & we no longer will feel the love coming from the Father, but not because He stopped loving! But because as John said in 1 John 4:18 ” There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”
Only when we choose to come back to the Love of the Father & love like Him can we be set free again. It is His love that we need to hold on to & when we seize it we must in turn give it out to others as a conduit of His hand. Jesus has set you free, choose today to love Him back by letting go of the things in your life that keeps you a slave. “Who the Son sets free is free indeed.” Leave that prison behind walk in the freedom of Christ while there is time! ~blessings Pastor Al