John 8:35

“’And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.’”

                If we look back at these verses we see a process of Jesus showing us that we are imprisoned, showing us He can make us free, we see the blindness of the people, then Jesus shows what the prison actually is – and now this. He tells us that a slave – that’s us when we’re in bondage to our sin – does not abide in the house forever, but a son does.

                Not only is he telling us that he will set us free from our sin and bondage, but that he will make us his own son or daughter! Can you imagine the love in his face when he said this? The people slowly shrinking back, realizing the hold of sin on their lives until Jesus reaches out his hand and says, “Not only will I pardon you, I will adopt you. You will be mine.”

                Jesus doesn’t just want to set us free and let us go in our own way, perhaps to our old ways that got us into bondage in the first place – he wants to pull us out of the rut, and pull us into his home. There, He can feed, comfort, discipline, and love us like He so desperately wants to. Once we’re in His house, He can show us obedience and how to walk in His ways.

                I will memorize Hebrews 12:5-7 “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” by next Friday.