John 8:31-32: True freedom.

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ NIV

Someone said, ”The truth will set you free, but first it will make you mad!!” Not everything Jesus teaches is palatable. Some of it will clash with your will; aspects of it will run contrary to your fond ambitions. But ironically, coming under the authority of Jesus will bring a person into true freedom. This is not liberty as the world understands it. You are not free to do as you wish; but you are freed to do what God wants. That is freedom ”indeed” (36). It’s a paradox, but in slavery to the LORD Jesus you will find perfect liberation.

There is an important vein of teaching running through the New Testament that says, ‘Genuine disciples persevere to the end.’ It’s not the starting that is so important as the finishing. We are called to ”hold” to Jesus’ teaching. There is an enemy of God (and therefore your foe also) who wants to rip this truth from your grasp. But if you endure the onslaughts and keep on clinging to this true word, you will find that through the years your knowledge will increase, and so will your freedom. It’s the freedom to be holy; to become increasingly like Jesus. Only a true disciple can know how desirable this is.