Watch the Devotion

Based on John 8:31-36

When you ask a Marine, soldier, sailor, airman, Coastie, or Guardian what “freedom” means, you’ll hear answers about rights, choices, and sacrifices. Freedom in our country is cherished—the ability to choose where to live, what to believe, how to worship, and how to serve. Those of you who have served or are serving took an oath to defend those freedoms. Yet, even with those rights, there’s a deeper freedom Jesus wants to talk about—a freedom that no government can give and no enemy can take away.

Most people think freedom means “I get to do what I want.” I’ve met a lot of active duty war fighters who live that when they first leave home—on leave or liberty—no rules, no parents telling them what to do. But that kind of freedom quickly becomes its own prison. What we want to do often isn’t good for us or for others. We hurt people, we hurt ourselves, and we break God’s commands. Jesus tells us this hard truth: “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34 ). The more we chase our own way, the tighter sin’s grip becomes.

But Jesus reveals the secret to true freedom: “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). The “teaching” Jesus speaks of is both God’s law and his gospel. The law shows the boundaries God lovingly sets to protect the good gifts he’s given—things like sex, money, alcohol, and relationships. Step outside those boundaries, and that freedom turns into slavery again.

The truth that sets us free is the good news that Jesus never crossed those lines. He perfectly obeyed his Father’s will, lived within every boundary, and then offered himself for every time we didn’t. His death and resurrection broke sin’s hold on us and declared us forgiven and free.

Now we’re truly free—not to do whatever we want, but free to live as God intended. Free from guilt, free from having to earn his favor, free to enjoy the good things he’s given within the safety of his design. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36 ).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for setting me free from the guilt and slavery of sin. Help me to hold firmly to your Word and walk in the freedom that you won for me. Let my life reflect your truth and protect the good gifts you’ve given. Amen.

Written and recorded by Rev. Paul Horn, WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military, San Diego, California.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version.