APRIL 17 - JESUS TEACHES TRUTH
READ John 8
Jesus teaches on truth.
INSIGHT
By nature, we want absolute freedom. But such freedom is not possible. In fact, no such thing as absolute freedom exists. To be free to sail the seven seas, we must make ourselves a slave to the compass. This subservience irritates us. All of life is a contrast between freedoms and corresponding bondages. We can be slaves to Jesus and free from the bondage of sin, or we can be free from Jesus and slaves to the bondage of sin. We can make ourselves slaves to truth, and the truth can set us free.
PRAYER
The heart that has been set free by truth can offer praise to the Lord of all truth:
Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in you.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings
until danger passes.
I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
God, be exalted above the heavens;
let your glory be over the whole earth
(Psalm 57:1, 9-11).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin
(Psalm 32:3, 5).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding
(Proverbs 9:10).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen (Romans 16:25, 27).
Jesus teaches on truth.
INSIGHT
By nature, we want absolute freedom. But such freedom is not possible. In fact, no such thing as absolute freedom exists. To be free to sail the seven seas, we must make ourselves a slave to the compass. This subservience irritates us. All of life is a contrast between freedoms and corresponding bondages. We can be slaves to Jesus and free from the bondage of sin, or we can be free from Jesus and slaves to the bondage of sin. We can make ourselves slaves to truth, and the truth can set us free.
PRAYER
The heart that has been set free by truth can offer praise to the Lord of all truth:
Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in you.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings
until danger passes.
I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
God, be exalted above the heavens;
let your glory be over the whole earth
(Psalm 57:1, 9-11).
Pause for personal praise and thanksgiving. Pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
When I kept silent, my bones became brittle
from my groaning all day long.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin
(Psalm 32:3, 5).
Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pause to pray this affirmation to the Lord:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding
(Proverbs 9:10).
As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray for:
- Greater faithfulness with the finances God has entrusted you with
- Revival to spread among North American Christians
- Your activities for the day
Finally, offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen (Romans 16:25, 27).