Where Are You Living?

What is your heritage?

Sometimes it can be really neat to know where you have come from. Those who have gone before you and how they still influence your life today.

The context: Feast of Tabernacles

This was a reminder to the nation of Israel where they came from. It was a reminder of their ancestors and how they should continue to influence their daily interactions.

Jesus and the call of following.

The individuals are those who have “believed” but are not walking in light of who Jesus is. These are the religious people of the day.

Our home is Jesus’ teaching.

The word used translated “hold” is used in John 15 to remain, and carries the connotation of “making a home” and “living in”. Notice the teaching ever to be about our heritage or pedigree as Christians, and a church.

Jesus is the source and THE truth!

Notice the connection he makes about this: his teachings are truth.

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The continuation of sin shows residence.

By default we all sin and continue in the sin. Jesus is not talking about messing up and sinning here and there but the intentional and continual, deliberate living of sin.

Jesus secures our freedom.

It is not about us but about his ability as the perfect Son to secure our freedom. We can have a change of address because we are secure in God’s family.

We need to make room for Jesus.

This may sound simple but it is more than just attending church on the weekends and singing songs. It is a perpetual living in His Word and His teachings.

Let Jesus set you free, today!

In our passage it was the religious folks who thought they were already free and needed to truly be set free. This Memorial Day weekend as we reflect on freedom and the gift of it don’t lose sight and true freedom.