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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Truth or Dare (08/28/08)
Daring To Be Made Free
You shall know the truth, and the truth shall MAKE you free…


Many times since I’d become a Christian, I’d read it from the Bible, and heard others teach and preach about how the truth makes us free. I’d found it a hard concept to grasp at times, because the world, and even some Christians say that it’s impossible to experience true deliverance and freedom in Christ. I’m a living testimony that that is just not the case.

On the other hand, I’ve heard some teachers and preachers misquote this passage of scripture that was uttered from the mouth of Jesus during His earthly ministry. Their take on it is, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall SET you free.” Some might put being set free and made free in the same category, but it’s not. The difference is one implies a one time act; the other implies a continuous, ongoing work in the life of a believer.

If an animal is caught in a trap, and someone sets the animal free, that doesn’t mean the animal is permanently set free. The animal could easily be ensnared again. If someone MAKES the animal free from the trap means that they take measures to be sure the animal is never caught in a trap again. A child might free the animal, take it home, and attempt to make it a pet, thus it comes under the child’s continual protection. That is what Jesus is saying He does in the life of a believer. He makes us free. When someone becomes born again, God goes to work on his or her life, and gives that person what he or she needs to walk in continuous, ongoing freedom. The bondage comes when a believer disobeys what God tells them in His Word, or they have un-dealt with issues that causes them to turn away from God’s provision and protection when they experience problems related to the issues in their life.

I spent years in bondage to mental and emotional problems. After I became born again, it didn’t totally disappear. But God started to work on those areas of my life that caused me pain and distress. The mental problems I had were directly linked to my childhood. I suffered abuse at home and school. I had a father whom I could never please. The only affection I received from my parents was at the end of a leather strap. My father left this earth not speaking to me, but I never stopped loving him regardless. It left me horribly insecure and suffering from mental problems that would take years to overcome. Much of my freedom came when I chose to forgive those who hurt and abused me.

The Lord began to make me free when He took me up and became a Father I never had. He began to nurture me back to mental and emotional health, much like someone does a baby bear after losing its mother. God used very special people to speak words into my life that I rarely heard growing up. Words like, “God says He loves you”, and “God said He’d never forsake you.” At those times I would feel the tangible presence of God and begin to weep before Him. Those were healing tears of love and acceptance. The words from the Bible began to become real in my life. It was as if God took His big loving arms and wrapped them around me tight and said, “It’s ok! I’m here now!” It was at that point I dared to be set free, and God’s promise of lasting deliverance became a reality in my life. Not by my own feeble effort, but a God who loved me more that I ever could have thought possible.

As God moves us from glory to glory and faith-to-faith, He makes a way for us to experience lasting freedom from the pain of our heartaches and distresses. It doesn’t mean He’ll remove all the circumstances that causes us pain, But as we learn to rest in the shelter of God’s loving arms, we’ll find that he does truly desire to MAKE us free.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Sunny Loomis 
09/06/08
Good entry. Not necessary to put everything in bold. Keep writing.
Lisa Keck
09/06/08
I never really thought about the difference so I thank you for pointing it out.
Beckie Stewart
09/06/08
Great testimony of the Lord's working our lives. Thanks for daring to share this truth about you with us.
Marlene Austin
09/08/08
Hmmmm- while I understand your perception of this verse as explained in your writing, I must confess that the KJV of John 8:32 does use the word "set". It continues to speak of us as being "enslaved" in sin and that Jesus, does indeed, set us free from our enslavement. I am not saying you are wrong in your "feeling" of how Jesus continually works in our lives,
I am just seeking clarity in what is said in this verse. You have done a good job in sharing the passion of your heart. :)
Randy Foncree
09/08/08
I normally don't respond when someone comments on my challenge article, but I must on the above comment, because it's not correct. The quote I'm using in this devotion is John 8:31 and 36. The 1611 KJV of the Bible uses the word "make" you free. I am not a King James only person, but there are certain words in other translations that take away from the meaning of certain verses. The NIV uses the word set, but looking at the Strongs definition, it implies ABSOLUTE FREEDOM.

In Pauls letter to Timothy, he speaks of widows indeed in the church to describe absolute destitution, and how the church is to meet their needs. When Jesus in John 8:36 says that a believer is made to be free indeed, that is the extreem He is describing. It doesn't mean we automatically become sinless, because believing such a notion would make us liars according to others of Johns writings. We are freed from the bondage of continual ongoing sin. We don't have to outwardly sin everyday as some in churches teach and believe, but when we do, we repent of it and confess it.

The number for this word in the Strongs Concordance is: 1658. This is not a big issue and is a small matter. If you disagree with my take on this, that's ok. I was taught by a very good pastor to pay very close attention to what I read in the scriptures. I just wanted to clear that up that the King James Version does say "make" you free, and not "set" you free as the NIV does...Thanks for all your comments...God bless, Randy Gene
Marlene Austin
09/10/08
The version that uses the word "set" is The New Scofield Study Bible - New International Version. Sorry to mislead anyone. My Scofield is the KJV - I didn't realize I had looked in a different edition. :)