Fields United Methodist Church

Thoughts Along the Way

Pastor Tom Joyce

June 29, 2021

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” 

John 8:36

As our nation celebrates yet another Fourth of July, consider how hard so many fought for freedom.  Freedom comes with a high cost, yet it can easily slip away. But Jesus talks of and offers to all people a freedom that is truly freeing, a freedom that is eternal, a freedom that cost Jesus death on a cross so we may live. This freedom is offered to all people and can never be taken away by anybody, ever. We celebrate the gift offered by Jesus that frees us essentially from ourselves, the freedom from sin that can have a way of blinding us from seeing the grace of God offered to all people and the opportunity to live in the freedom of God’s grace with celebration, not condemnation, with joy, not uncertainty.  When Jesus spoke to the people who were listening that day, he said, “if you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)

Truth is, if we change our focus from ourselves to the grace of Jesus Christ, then the world will no longer be about us, but about those we travel with along the twists and turns of life.  Consider the Ten Commandments; the first five establish our relationship with God and the second 5 the truth of how we are to be in relationship and treat other people. Jesus consolidates these truths to 2, just to make it easier on us; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:30-31) Truth is, if we have a strong and enduring relationship with God, and share the joy of Jesus in our relationships with others, we will be free, free indeed.    Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, sharing and living out the grace of Jesus and the truth of his eternal word of hope, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)