DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: JULY 22 THE TRUTH THAT SETS FREE SCRIPTURE: JOHN 8: 31 – 32
There might be a problem when it comes to proffering meaning to the word “truth” in this present world. This is because to every mind, what is presented as truth to one who said the word will not appear to be truth to one who hears it. We are living in a world soaked with multifaceted theory, ideologies, personal knowledge, societal accepted doctrines or built up wisdom; which made whatever one is inclined to, appears to be truth. Truth, to different schools of thoughts is relative in most cases (that is, as seen or believed by the individuals). Therefore, what is truth to one person might be falsehood to the other person. Today’s devotional is looking at “The truth that sets free.” This makes the focus easy to dwell on. This shows that there could be many “truths” but there stands the truth that “SETS FREE.” In the lead text of today discussion, Jesus was discussing issues of Salvation to the Jews; but they were resistant to the truth. Jesus told them that they will know the truth and the truth will set them free. This became a laughable statement to them because they never saw themselves in bondage. There, how do they need to be set free?
Talking of the truth by this devotional, the focus is on (a) something that conforms with facts. (b) The reality of something (c) Fidelity to an original or standard. The word ‘fidelity’ here stands for exact correspondence with fact. (d) In theology and philosophy, truth is what is considered to be the ultimate ground of reality. By these descriptions of truth, Jesus means the gospel He brought to the world is something that conforms to facts, message that is an embodiment of realities, words that those who are exact correspondence with facts or message to be considered an ultimate ground of reality. If they hear and accept they will be set free. When Jesus said the truth of the messages He brought into the world will set people free, He meant people will be set free from the worldly moral truth, saving truth, working truth and living truth positioned before them. The truth contained in all these mentioned above are based on human knowledge, adulterated that could not set people free.
The devotional regards all that the world presents to the minds and eyes of people as truths “worldly truth” because when followed, they tend to lead to regrets, frustrations, pains, sorrow and what have you. Christian teachers, counselors, mentors and General Overseers have facts from people meeting them for solutions to their problems; how they turned out to know that what was presented to them before joining cultism, armed robbering gangs, killers squads, smugglings etc., never saved them from emotional traumas, but increased their fears and insecurity. Most young people were lured into killers’ squads after accepting that getting there will place them upon the world. Young girls told that going about in sexual spree gives enjoyment quickly discovered they have become sex slaves on entering the club. Most met their untimely death either through illegal abortion or ritual sacrifices. There cannot be any truth that sets free other than the Gospel of Jesus.
PRAYER:
LORD JESUS, I set my heart open to receive your word that gives me freedom setting apart from all the enticements of this world.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
