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Friday Devotional:
John 8:31-36
Jesus was talking with "the Jews who had believed in him" (v.31). Some of the people in his audience did not understand his teachings, but Jesus encouraged them to stay on the path they were on, to continue in his word. His promise that his word would make them "free" bothered them, though. They reasoned that God had made a covenant with their forebear Abraham, and they considered freedom their birthright as his descendants. They were blessed by God's promises to make a great name of Abraham and make him a blessing to all people.
Jesus' reply that "everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" (v.34) challenged their assumption of a spillover benefit. In effect, he was saying, "God has many children but no grandchildren."
That's an important teaching of the Reformation. At the time, most people thought of their relationship with God as secondhand, handled through the church. Luther taught that we can talk directly to God on our own behalf.
Since I cannot inherit faith, O Lord, help me to go forward in my own faith walk with you. Amen.
An excerpt from Christ in Our Home
If you would like a copy of Christ in Our Home
Please contact the church office at 805-983-0612
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