“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36

Jesus, the Son of God, didn’t come into our world to bind and burden you. He came to set you free! How? By believing in Him as Savior and Lord, turning from your sins and following Him.

Jesus set you free from sin’s power. Apart from Jesus, you can’t help but sin. You try not to, but it dominates and drives you. When you trust in Jesus you become a new creation with the freedom to not sin. Don’t take your freedom for granted by indulging sin.

Jesus set you free from sin’s consequence, which is death. Death entered the world because of sin. Why? Because rebellion against God (which all sin is) separates you from the source of life (which is God). Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead having defeated sin and death. When you trust in Jesus, you’re set free from death’s power. Your body will certainly die (unless Jesus returns first) but your soul won’t. Death is not the wall you imagine but a door into God’s visible presence. Don’t take your freedom for granted by living in fear of death.

Jesus set you free from the burden of trying to save yourself. Apart from Jesus, you have no power to save yourself from your sins. Nonetheless, you may have tried through systems of rules, laws, religions. Every other system of faith is about what a person must do to save themself. How often to pray. What to say. What to give. Where to go. Jesus set you free from the impossibility of saving yourself. He suffered and died on the cross to save you as a gift of God’s grace. All you must do is believe. Don’t take that freedom for granted by adding man-made rules and systems to your faith.

Jesus set you free from having to conform to the world. The fundamental invitation of Jesus is to follow Him. It’s an invitation to live a life filled with His Spirit, walking in step with His presence. This is an invitation to do what He said to do out of love, joy, and delight for the freedom He’s given. If you let Him, He’ll guide you in paths of blessing and purpose far greater than those you would find for yourself based on the world’s ideals, attractions, and pressures. Don’t take that freedom for granted by continuing to follow the world’s priorities. #FollowJesus

“And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’” – Mark 8:27

Jesus began one of the most important conversations He ever had with His disciples with this simple question. He asks what they hear people saying about Him. The disciples give various answers. Jesus immediately makes it clear that it doesn’t really matter what other people say about Him. For each individual person, the most important question is who do they think Jesus is. From this conversation comes the foundational confession of the Christian faith, that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.

Each of us must answer that deeper question for ourselves. There is no more important question. Who do you say Jesus is? In our own time, lots of people say lots of things about Jesus. Some consider Him a legend. Some consider Him a lunatic. Some consider Him a great teacher or a moral example. Some describe Him as a revolutionary. Many will declare Him a prophet. Others call Him a created being or the spirit-brother of Satan. Forget about what others say… Who do you say Jesus is?

There’s only one answer that brings salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. If you haven’t already done so, believe that Jesus IS the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. Believe that He died on the cross for you and rose from the died victorious over sin and death. Believe that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, reigning in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father. Don’t let the answers of others confuse you about Who and What the Bible reveals Jesus to be. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. You will be saved! #FollowJesus

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” – Matthew 15:18

What we eat may be unhealthy but it can’t make us unclean in God’s eyes. Our bodies take care of that naturally as Jesus explained in the verse before this one. On the other hand, what we say…. That can really make us unclean in God’s eyes!

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the terrible power of our words to hurt others AND ourselves. Hasty, rude, angry, cruel, obscene, profane, divisive, or selfish words not only reflect the poor health of our souls, they reinforce that worsen that health. Words can absolutely be sinful. We must recognize that and repent whenever we sin with our mouths.

We must also recognize that if we have a pattern of sinful words it reflects a heart that needs additional transformation in Jesus Christ. Don’t excuse away your words. Embrace the spiritual work of drawing nearer to Jesus and letting Him transform your words. Invest in your daily time with Jesus, studying and meditating on His Word, talking to Him in prayer, and worshiping Him both privately and publicly. You may need to invest in counseling to help apply His Word more fully to your hearts so that you speak life rather than death and holiness rather than defilement. Be willing to do whatever it takes to get your heart and mouth in alignment with your Savior. #FollowJesus

“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” – Matthew 15:18

What we eat may be unhealthy but it can’t make us unclean in God’s eyes. Our bodies take care of that naturally as Jesus explained in the verse before this one. On the other hand, what we say…. That can really make us unclean in God’s eyes!

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the terrible power of our words to hurt others AND ourselves. Hasty, rude, angry, cruel, obscene, profane, divisive, or selfish words not only reflect the poor health of our souls, they reinforce and worsen that health. Words can absolutely be sinful. We must recognize that and repent whenever we sin with our mouths.

We must also recognize that if we have a pattern of sinful words it reflects a heart that needs additional transformation in Jesus Christ. Don’t excuse away your words. Embrace the spiritual work of drawing nearer to Jesus and letting Him transform your words. Invest in your daily time with Jesus, studying and meditating on His Word, talking to Him in prayer, and worshiping Him both privately and publicly. You may need to invest in counseling to help apply His Word more fully to your hearts so that you speak life rather than death and holiness rather than defilement. Be willing to do whatever it takes to get your heart and mouth in alignment with your Savior. #FollowJesus

“For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” – John 6:33

When we eat food, we become hungry again within a few hours. Our bodies regularly need more food to maintain physical life. Things work differently for our souls. Because of our sin, our souls are spiritually dead, even as we walk through physical life. However, God graciously offers eternal life for our souls. God sent His Son into the world to be the bread of heaven Who will nourish our souls forever. A relationship with Jesus raises our zombie-like souls to spiritual life. Our sins are forgiven, our guilt removed, and our shame washed clean. We are made new creation and our souls become alive forever.

How do we “eat” this bread? By believing in Jesus. When we trust our lives to Him as Lord and Savior, we become spiritually alive. We enter into an eternal union with Jesus that will nourish our souls in good times and bad. That relationship will nourish our souls on earth and in heaven. There is a limitless supply of this bread. Everyone who believes in Jesus in every age will receive the life that is only available through faith in Jesus.

Have you eaten this bread? Are you nurturing your relationship with Jesus and enjoying the ongoing nourishment of your soul? Do you believe with a faith that leads you to obey Jesus, worship Jesus, study Jesus, serve Jesus, share Jesus, fellowship with the people of Jesus, and become more and more like Jesus? If you are, then you’re fully embracing the Bread of Life. Enjoy that life and be satisfied in it. If you aren’t, don’t hesitate or delay… Jesus is life! #FollowJesus