To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
It is a very narrow road with twisting “Mama Mia!” kinds of switchbacks. Often there is only width for one vehicle at a time. The view is impressive, even en route, if you dare to look out the window as the steep asphalt, absent any guard rails, whooshes by. I’m thankful the guide knows where we are going.
On the Isle of Capri, the drive from the town of Capri up to Anacapri is truly breathtaking. Exiting the vehicle in Anacapri, I have a choice. I can either take the single-seated ski lift to the top of Anacapri or not. The thought of dangling dozens of feet off the ground on the steep ride is daunting, but I am promised many photo opportunities when I reach the summit. Convinced, I wait my turn for my personal ski lift and then I am off! Gliding over the trees and houses on the ascent isn’t as scary as I had imagined. Floating over the landscape actually feels freeing, like I can reach out and touch the sky. From the top, the view is incredibly more than I could have ever dreamed!
Navigating life without the truth of the Bible and the Holy Spirit is like navigating a winding, switchback road with no road map, posted signs, or guard rails. Scary at least and perhaps even dangerous to ourselves and others, we accept beliefs as our own without vetting them against Scripture. When we live life with beliefs we haven’t stacked up against the Bible, when our thoughts are untested by the Holy Spirit, we can too easily hurt and judge others by dishing out what we believe is the truth, rather than showing them God’s grace. We can easily become intolerant of others’ ideas, even those of other believers, when we believe we alone know truth. Only God has the corner market on truth.
When we don’t live in God’s truth, we also deny ourselves the life we are called to live. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Some translations use the word “abundant” instead of full. Living this full and abundant life will evade us if we don’t spend time in God’s truth and really understand it. We will miss out on God’s many blessings in our own lives. We’ll lose sight of the life we are called to live, kingdom living here and now.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Understanding the truth of Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit frees us to be who God wants us to be, free to live and love out of the abundance of God’s grace, free to live a forgiven life because Jesus has already paid for our sins. We’re free to live in peace, without anxiety, without fear. We can have the abundant life Jesus talks about, a life full of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). We’re unencumbered as we run the race of life, throwing off everything that hinders to run freely to the finish line of heaven. (See Hebrews 12:1-3.)
Like the road to Anacapri, we can navigate best when we have a guide who knows the truth of where we are going. Traveling the often-winding road of life with the knowledge of Scripture and the help of the Holy Spirit enables us to experience freedom, to live without fear, to live without judgment, and to live in grace and peace with ourselves and others. We don’t need a chairlift to the top. All we need is God’s Spirit living in us and beliefs that come from God and His Word.
Lord, You alone are Truth. May the grace of Your Truth set me free, free from fear, and free to love You and those You’ve placed in my life without judgment. May I live the abundant life by Your Spirit living in me. Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo from the summit of Anacapri on the isle of Capri, Italy.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
It is a very narrow road with twisting “Mama Mia!” kinds of switchbacks. Often there is only width for one vehicle at a time. The view is impressive, even en route, if you dare to look out the window as the steep asphalt, absent any guard rails, whooshes by. I’m thankful the guide knows where we are going.
On the Isle of Capri, the drive from the town of Capri up to Anacapri is truly breathtaking. Exiting the vehicle in Anacapri, I have a choice. I can either take the single-seated ski lift to the top of Anacapri or not. The thought of dangling dozens of feet off the ground on the steep ride is daunting, but I am promised many photo opportunities when I reach the summit. Convinced, I wait my turn for my personal ski lift and then I am off! Gliding over the trees and houses on the ascent isn’t as scary as I had imagined. Floating over the landscape actually feels freeing, like I can reach out and touch the sky. From the top, the view is incredibly more than I could have ever dreamed!
Navigating life without the truth of the Bible and the Holy Spirit is like navigating a winding, switchback road with no road map, posted signs, or guard rails. Scary at least and perhaps even dangerous to ourselves and others, we accept beliefs as our own without vetting them against Scripture. When we live life with beliefs we haven’t stacked up against the Bible, when our thoughts are untested by the Holy Spirit, we can too easily hurt and judge others by dishing out what we believe is the truth, rather than showing them God’s grace. We can easily become intolerant of others’ ideas, even those of other believers, when we believe we alone know truth. Only God has the corner market on truth.
When we don’t live in God’s truth, we also deny ourselves the life we are called to live. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Some translations use the word “abundant” instead of full. Living this full and abundant life will evade us if we don’t spend time in God’s truth and really understand it. We will miss out on God’s many blessings in our own lives. We’ll lose sight of the life we are called to live, kingdom living here and now.
In John 8:31-32, Jesus says, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Understanding the truth of Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit frees us to be who God wants us to be, free to live and love out of the abundance of God’s grace, free to live a forgiven life because Jesus has already paid for our sins. We’re free to live in peace, without anxiety, without fear. We can have the abundant life Jesus talks about, a life full of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). We’re unencumbered as we run the race of life, throwing off everything that hinders to run freely to the finish line of heaven. (See Hebrews 12:1-3.)
Like the road to Anacapri, we can navigate best when we have a guide who knows the truth of where we are going. Traveling the often-winding road of life with the knowledge of Scripture and the help of the Holy Spirit enables us to experience freedom, to live without fear, to live without judgment, and to live in grace and peace with ourselves and others. We don’t need a chairlift to the top. All we need is God’s Spirit living in us and beliefs that come from God and His Word.
Lord, You alone are Truth. May the grace of Your Truth set me free, free from fear, and free to love You and those You’ve placed in my life without judgment. May I live the abundant life by Your Spirit living in me. Amen.
Want to subscribe to future posts? Click here.
Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo from the summit of Anacapri on the isle of Capri, Italy.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
RSS Feed