The Truth Will Set You Free

Read John 8:31-38

Hi and welcome to this week’s Reedy’s Devotional Moments. In the movie A Few Good Men, there is a famous line. Colonel Nathan Jessep (played by Jack Nicholson) was on the stand in court and the pressure was being piled on by lawyer played by Tom Cruise who said in the heat of the moment “I want the truth” in which the Colonel fired right back saying “you can’t handle the truth”. Truth, what was considered as truth years ago has changed significantly over recent times. Social media and fake news have changed the narrative of truth so what I consider as truth you may not. This has particularly been highlighted throughout the pandemic when one group will say that this is the truth while another group would totally disagree.

These days truth is seen as “relative” meaning that it can differ according to individual viewpoints, and some would argue that there is no absolute truth. Jesus though thought differently. He boldly declared that He is the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6 NIV). He declares Himself to be the truth. On another occasion He said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 NIV). And so, for many of us Christians, we believe that Jesus’ teachings are truth and when we come in faith to accept them as absolute truth, then we will be set free. How this is taught may change these days, but one thing I do know is that people’s experiences are real and are often hard to argue against. For example, I know that when I put into practice Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness it frees me from being enslaved by the perpetrator’s grip over me or when I persist in prayer as Jesus taught, that I’m set free from worry and experience His peace that He’s got my concern. Most importantly I experience immense hope that I am saved because of my belief in what Jesus has done for me on the cross. No matter what those around you think of Christianity, keep believing in Jesus as the Truth and He will set you free.

Let’s pray. Father in Heaven. While many can’t handle the truth of the gospel, help me to keep trusting you and your ways. May the faith I have in you set me free from any attitudes or feelings that are not of you. Help me to love all people, including those who hold different beliefs to me, but in your time, may they discover freedom that only you can offer. In Christ name I pray. Amen.

David Moyes

I Am The Good Shepherd

John 10:11-16

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him, and he isn’t their shepherd. And so, the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. “

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So, I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

• The word Shepherd is mentioned 119 times in the NLT translation, and it’s generally around a position of leadership.

• God is referred to as the shepherd of the Israelite's in the Old Testament Psalm 23

• Jesus was prophesied to be the Shepherd of the people of Israel Matthew 2:6

A Shepherd in this context is a leader and the good shepherd is a leader who will go out of his way to protect the sheep, leave the 99 to save the one.

John also mentions the other sheep who are not in this sheepfold yet. These are people who are lost and don’t actually know Jesus yet and are wondering and searching for God.

This scripture calls out the pharisees as the hired hands who don’t lead according to Gods will but actually lead people astray.

So Jesus, the good shepherd is like a great leader, but there are people who aren’t great leaders who lead people astray.

I AM - Do Not Fear

John 6:16-24

We probably think we are familiar with the story of Jesus walking on the water in Johns Gospel. Who else walked on the water with him?

If you said Peter well, you’re actually wrong, because John doesn’t record anyone getting out of the boat to meet Jesus on the water!

Instead, John highlights a different aspect of this miracle.

The disciples are rowing, fighting a stiff breeze and a bit of swell, then, out in the water, they see Jesus walking ON the water! They are terrified, and Jesus says – “I AM. Do not fear”.

These are powerful words.

They are the same words God used to reveal Himself to Israel in Exodus.

Effectively, Jesus is saying “I am God with you, you don’t need to be afraid”

We often face spiritual and emotional storms that can feel like being in a small boat on a big lake, & Jesus is right there with us & says the same thing to us. “I AM. Don’t be scared”.

Difficult & testing times are inevitable, but rather than enduring them in fear, we need to remember that Jesus comes, and meets us in the middle, we are not alone and we endure in faith.

What ever you circumstance, you can trust Him. He is the source of peace.