The Truth Shall Set You Free

By: Donovan Parker

This phrase almost seems cliché as much as people use it these days.

I struggle with being honest when I feel like the subject matter will negatively affect the person I am being open with. I am still currently working on being transparent, but some of my other main issues are 1.)not letting my pride keep me from doing what is right/just 2.)not getting caught up with what is going on around me. Recently, I have been really honest and forthcoming (something that I don’t normally do) with some of the people that I consider close to my heart. As much as it seems like I should have been able to be honest and forthcoming with them to begin with, I haven’t. Now I find myself trying to rectify and explain many of my actions. In this manner, I feel like I am free of the burden and separation that comes with not being honest BUT as I begin to think about truth from a Biblical standpoint, this doesn’t seem like enough. I still feel consumed with how my actions will be received, how they are interpreted, etc. – all this is still burdensome.

This brings me to John 8:31-32 which says, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” As appealing as the latter part of this passage is, the first part is more promising in my opinion. However, we cannot look over the conditionality of this first part of the passage. IF ye continue in my word, THEN ye are my disciples and shall know the truth.

Jesus tells us in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” So as I quest to continue to be honest with those around me, things are made clearer as I have my Savior, Jesus as an example of what TRUTH really is.

NOW, at this point, I no longer have to worry much about how to go about making my actions line up with my words because it is already listed out for me what to do – “CONTINUE IN MY WORD” I am reminded that my GREATEST effort (on my own), is NEVER enough in God’s eyes, but with Jesus all things are made whole.

Being a disciple:

The thing that I like about serving Christ is that not only is He our perfect example of how things should be done but He makes clear instructions of how to get us where He wants us. It is my responsibility to line up with the example that Christ has already set and my daily struggles of integrity are made easy.

I encourage you to NOT be consumed with how to do this and that, how people will receive your actions, etc. BUT focus more on Jesus and you can’t go wrong.