Today’s Devotion
Topic: Slave Or Free? (Part 1)
Self Assessment
Background: One day, shortly after the celebration of the Jewish Festival of Shelters, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray; as was his custom. Early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.
Not everyone in the crowd liked Him. In fact, some of them had been seeking to arrest Him right from the time of the festival. They saw this meeting as an opportunity to trap Him in His own words. He instead seized the moment to paint a true picture of themselves to them.
Let’s head straight into our study for today and see what He had to say to them and to us too, for that matter.
Text: John 8: 31- 36
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, ‘set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.” Amen
Questions:
i) According to vrs33, what does it take to be a true disciple of Christ?
ii) In vrs 32, Jesus says, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” What is the ‘truth’ He was referring to and practically, how does ‘truth’ set free?
iii) In your opinion, what does it mean for anyone to be a slave to anything or anyone else?
iv) How is it possible that people who have never been slaves to anyone would ever need to be set free once they get to know the truth? What did the people need to be set free from?
v) Do you think that as people living in the 21st century, we have been slaves to anything? If Yes, In what ways have we been? If No, why do you say so?
vi) Jesus uses a beautiful illustration in vrs 35. In your opinion, what authority or benefit does the son in a family have over the slave?
vii) Vrs 36 declares that if “the son sets you free, you will indeed be free.” Kindly elaborate with practical examples.
viii) What lessons have you learnt from today’s study?
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