What Jesus Did : John 8:33-34 - The Slave Trade
by Phil Ware
The Slave Trade - John 8:33-34
The Jews answered, "We are Abraham's people. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be free?" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth. Every person that sins is a slave. Sin is his master. (ERV) Full Text
Key Thought
Sin captures. Sin enslaves us. Sin abuses us. Sin brings us to death. When sin infects us and takes root, it becomes addictive and destructive. If we are going to enjoy the freedom the Lord longs to give us, then we must also make a commitment to live for him and turn away from sin. We can, by the Spirit's power, put to death the power of sin, but we must also make it our commitment to leave it behind!
Today's Prayer
Father, God of grace and power, please deliver me from the sin that entangles me and keeps me from being all that you have made me to be. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
NEW: Get Phil's What Jesus Did devotional in a paperback book. Click here to find out more!
While Jesus was saying these things, many people believed in him. So Jesus said to the Jews that believed in him, "If you continue to obey my teaching, then you are truly my followers. Then you will know the truth. And the truth will make you free." The Jews answered, "We are Abraham's people. And we have never been slaves. So why do you say that we will be free?" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth. Every person that sins is a slave. Sin is his master. A slave does not stay with a family forever. But a son belongs to the family forever. So if the Son makes you free, then you will be truly free. I know you are Abraham's people. But you want to kill me. Why? Because you don't want to accept my teaching. I am telling you what my Father has shown me. But you do the things that your father has told you." The Jews said, "Our father is Abraham. " Jesus said, "If you were really Abraham's children, then you would do the things Abraham did. I am a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. But you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that. So you are doing the things your own father did." But the Jews said, "We are not like children that never knew who their father was. God is our Father. He is the only Father we have." Jesus said to those Jews, "If God were really your Father, then you would love me. I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority. God sent me. You don't understand these things I say. Why? Because you cannot accept my teaching. Your father is the devil. You belong to him. You want to do what he wants. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies. I speak the truth. That is why you don't believe me. Can any of you prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why don't you believe me? The person that belongs to God accepts what God says. But you don't accept what Godsays, because you don't belong to God."
-- John 8:30-47 (ERV)
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/john/0619-wjd.html
(c)2001-2006, Phil Ware and Heartlight, Inc.
©1996-2002, Heartlight, Inc. - http://www.heartlight.org