John 8:32 Jesus was in the temple reasoning with the Pharisees,“Who are You anyway”? They asked. Jesus responds, “I am exactly what I have been telling you from the first“. A crowd had gathered to hear Him speak, including Jews who believed in Him. Jesus, turned from the Pharisees to those who believed, those who listened… allowing the Word to fall as seed on fertile ground. He told them if they’d abide in His Word and do what it says, they’d be His disciples. In doing so they’d know the Truth, and this Truth would set them free. No longer would they be slaves to sin, they would walk in the Freedom to do righteousness. The Pharisees argued, Jesus even called them on it, telling them His Word didn’t find a place in them. They heard the Truth but rejected it. How does the knowing the Truth set us free? What is Truth if not knowledge of righteousness, and believing in…trusting Jesus to take away our sin? Truth is knowing about who we are in Jesus, following Him and the Hope in the eternity He’s prepared for us. What kept the Pharisees from knowing Truth…knowing Jesus? What blinded them, what caused their deafness when they witnessed the miracles and heard Jesus speak Truth? When convicted, they became angry, self-righteous, arrogant. False accusations flowed from their hearts. We meditate, we listen to Him as He reveals our heart. Has His Word found fertile ground? Or, are we stiff necked, rejecting His conviction of sin, with Pride standing his ground? Has the Truth fully penetrated our heart so we’re free to do what’s right… No longer slaves to the desires of the flesh? And…If so, do we acknowledge the power of the Holy Spirit, and use it to walk in Truth, to walk in freedom? Lord, thank You for the Light, the Truth, the way of righteousness. Help us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, find us humble, and repentant in Your conviction and guidance…in Truth.