July 4: Regenerating Power
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
When Jesus walked the earth, the leaders and teachers of His own people were powerless to stand against the work of Satan, for they had long neglected the only means that would have given them the backbone to stand firm. Jesus, Himself, had overcome the direct attacks of Satan by the written word of God. While the religious leaders presented themselves as expositors of that written word, they instead made it of “none effect” (Matthew 15:6, Mark 7:13) by misusing it to express ideas, traditions, and sentiments that were never intended by God. They had employed mystical interpretations that took what God had made plain and rendered it vague or insignificant. Interest in retaining their high positions of influence over the people, and not building the kingdom of God, was the top priority.
“History is repeating. With the Bible open before them, and professing to reverence its teachings, many of the religious teachers of our time are destroying faith in it as the word of God. They busy themselves with dissecting the word, and set their own opinions above its plainest statements. In their hands God’s word loses its regenerating power.” DESIRE OF AGES by Ellen White (page 258)
Today, we celebrate living in the Land of Liberty. No nation in all of earth’s history has extended freedom to the populace as this one has. Getting out from under widespread religious oppression in Europe was a victory that was hard-won. But, just as Pharaoh and his army pursued the children of Israel after they had been set free (Exodus 14:9), forces have continually pursued the freedoms that have been providentially supplied in the United States.
As followers of the Lawgiver and Redeemer, we understand that real freedom is about freedom from the bondage of sin. This freedom enables us to love the Lord supremely and love our fellow humans—all regardless of current events. How to manifest this love is summarized in the Ten Commandments. Our brother James called them the law of liberty (James 1:25, 2:12). The New Covenant means the LORD writes this law upon our hearts as we walk with Him. (Jeremiah 31:33, Hebrews 8:10; 10:16). Another expression for writing it upon our hearts is implanting. In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus talked about the soil into which the seed, His word, is planted. A wonderful lesson is that I get to decide what kind of soil I will be. If I recognize that I am poor soil, then I can choose to do some plowing!
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21