Daily Bread 6/15/2023

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    Daily Bread – June 15, 2023 (The Fifth Day – Genesis 1:20-23) John 8:31-32 – Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed in Him, “If you remain in My Word, then you are truly My disciples. And you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” We Must Know The Truth In Order To Be Free The promise Jesus proclaims to all is that through believing on Him one will be liberated, or set free, from the tyrannical rule of sin. The “truth” referred to here is the “revelation of Jesus”, which is further emphasized by verse thirty-six which says, “the Son shall set you free.” The Greek word for “free” is ‘eleutheroo’ which the Authorized Version renders “make free” six times and “deliver” one time. We have been empowered to both know and to do those things which God has spoken – but how can you do that which you do not know, nor are mindful of? We must submit ourselves to the simplicity of God’s Word, and be willing to obey the things He has commanded (Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21). If we love Jesus, we will love His Word – and we will do it (John 14:23-24; 1 John 2:5). If we are going to be doers of the Word, then His Word must be a part of how we think and reason. The way in which we think and reason is the way in which we speak and conduct our lives. To make the Word of God the abiding place of both our hearts and intellects, we must give ourselves to knowing the Word. The practice of having only a casual encounter with the Word must come to an end. The people of God are going to have to grow up and stop living as babies who expect to be spoon-fed the Word of God on a weekly basis. We must cease to be slothful, and rather, become diligent with the Word of God. The idea that we can put more time and enthusiasm into things that make us successful in the world – while we neglect the spiritual – is a terrible deception! The command to “study to show yourself approved, a workman that does not need to be ashamed” is not just for preachers and teachers of the Word – it is for every person who would be a disciple of Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 3:14; 1 Timothy 4:6; Hebrews 2:3). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen