John 8:31-44 (ESV)
“31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Today, we want freedom of/from everything. It’s our right. We want freedom from fear (safety), freedom from religion (self seeking), freedom of responsibility (entitlement), freedom of sexual orientation (who do I think I am), etc. As crazy as it sounds, all those things are not freedom – they are traps that lead to more fear because they lead away from God.

“If you abide in my word you will know the truth, …and the truth will set you free.” It’s not Mulder’s (X-files), though the seeking is much the same. It’s not Carrey’s (Liar-Liar).

It’s the truth. Simple, honest, real, truth from God, not from man. As man, we want freedom to do whatever we want to do. We want no boundaries. As a parent, I know that raising kids without boundaries is horrific for the kids. They turn out messed up, insecure, self centered, etc. As adults, we have a choice to set our own boundaries though, and we set them outside of where God sets them. His boundaries are His word, The Way, The Living Water. His words are found in the bible. Our boundaries are filled with self. Like a child who wants and wants, who has no boundaries set, our lives turn out messed up, insecure, self centered, etc. when we ignore the boundaries God has set for us.

Yet, it’s hard to raise kids with boundaries, it’s work, it means no’s. We’re God’s children and He set’s up boundaries for us. My children tested the edges of the boundaries. I set the boundaries edge and pushed back on them when they crossed it.

God though, He wants us to accept His boundaries voluntarily before He will push back on us. It’s our choice and we make the choice whether we realize it or not.

Freedom from fear. Yes, the truth will set us free, and freedom is from this world and it’s ways. Boundaries are tough, and they are necessary to live a healthy life in this world and in the next one. We are God’s children.