21-day challenge Day #8: John 8

Read: John 8

My Key Verse: John 8:33 "They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

My Reflections: Jesus offered freedom, but the Jews were offended by the thought that they even needed freedom. They claim to have never been slaves, but the history of the Israelite people is one of slavery. They were slaves to the Egyptians, they were slaves to Moabites, Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, etc. But even more than that, they were slaves to their tendency to give their loyalty to every other god but the God of Abraham that they so readily claim. Little-g gods like Baal, Asherah and Molech... and like Power, Wealth and Position.

The Jews were in prideful denial and that was their major obstacle when they had the chance to accept the Son of God. To admit we need a Savior is to admit that we are lost.

That is still a major obstacle in peoples lives--especially people who claim to believe in God. Their pride convinces them that they are self-sufficient and have no need of surrendering their lives to God.

My Prayer: Help me God, to always be keenly aware of my in-sufficiency...without the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus, I am lost...condemned by my own inability to ever measure up to your expectation of holiness. Thank you Jesus for loving us even though we aren't worthy and will never fully return your love. Imperfect and desperately in need of being saved, we love you!