Today’s scripture: John 8:31-37 (NRSV) (The Message)
As you read, consider these questions: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two before reading on.
My thoughts on this passage (Tyler Connoley):
If you spend much time in a Metropolitan Community Church anywhere in the world, you’ll hear this passage being quoted. “The truth will make you free,” we say, as we urge one another to come out of the closet and remain out. “Be truthful. Be authentic. Then you’ll be free.”
We’ve almost become flippant in our attitude toward this phrase. But the context of today’s Scripture helps us see that the process of seeking truth and finding freedom is a harrowing one.
The author of John tells us Jesus was speaking to “Jews who had believed in him.” These were people already on the path of finding truth in Jesus, yet there were parts of themselves they weren’t willing to acknowledge. When Jesus told them to seek freedom, they claimed to be free, and Jesus had to point out to them that they were in fact still slaves to sin.
Then Jesus made a shocking observation. He said, “you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word.” These people who had believed in him were still seeking to kill him! How could that be? The answer is in the second half of that phrase: there is no place in you for my word. Although they believed, there were parts of Jesus’ message they wouldn’t accept.
I think we’re too often like the people in this passage. We believe, but we don’t want to be completely authentic in our walk with Jesus. There are parts of his message that are too painful, parts of ourselves we don’t want to look at. And so, we plot to kill Christ’s presence in that one part of our hearts or minds.
Unwilling to face the hard truths, we become slaves.
Thought and prayer for the day: Which of Jesus’ truths are you not finding a place for in your heart? In what ways are you still living as a slave, instead of as a child of God? God, help me with the difficult work of knowing the truth, so the truth will make me free.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. Use the item above as a starting point, or consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.