Transformed – teen devotion – October 30, 2022

One truth shared: We look to Christ and his Word as the ultimate source of all truth.

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.”

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:31-36

The Truth Will Set You Free
Kylie was caught off guard. She sort of froze in the moment with all the frozen fries in her hand. She nearly dropped the whole batch in the fryer.

It had been an ordinary day at work. Burger here, fries there. A couple quick jokes among workers between orders. Normal stuff. However, as soon as things had slowed down a bit after the dinner rush, the conversation began to pick up among workers. Somehow, they got onto current topics in the news and what they thought about issues. Everyone had opinions about huge things like marriage, abortion, LGBTQ+, and even democracy and how to be a good citizen.

Tasha rattled off all kinds of buzz words and catch phrases you could find on Reddit or Instagram memes. “But it’s the truth,” she asserted. José fired back with his passionate response. “I’m happy you have opinions, Tasha. But this is my truth,” José insisted. Then came that awkward moment that froze Kylie. “What about you, Kylie? What’s your truth?”

Have you found yourself in these kinds of situations? Have you had discussions with people at work or in your clubs or on your teams? Have you argued about hot topics with people at school? Have you found yourself in a posting war online, arguing back and forth with posts and memes on your timeline or story?

So many today have very strong opinions about all kinds of issues, and many claim that what they are saying is the truth. And it’s not unusual to have two different people with two opposite opinions both say, “Well that’s my truth.”

(TIME OUT! . . . If you think about it, this is craziness today. It doesn’t even make logical sense. How can two opposing ideas both be true? For example, how could creation and evolution both be true at the same time? It’s impossible! Something to think about. TIME IN . . .)

When we are caught between conflicting claims to truth, we need to go to the source, to the Truth—to Jesus. In the words for our consideration from John 8, Jesus reminds us that if we hold to his teaching, we are really his disciples, and then we will know the truth. This reminds us of what Jesus also says six chapters later. “I am the way and the truth and the life.”

If you want to search for ultimate and absolute and objective truth, go to Christ and his Word. He is the truth, he speaks the truth, and he shares the truth with us.

It can be so confusing in a world full of seemingly opposing truths. Whom do you listen to? What “truth” is right? Don’t find yourself lost as a slave to sin and the lies of this world. Go to Jesus. Go to his Word. “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to see you and your Word as truth. Help me also to filter all issues and opinions through the lens of your Word to know with godly wisdom what is true. Amen.


Teen Devotions are brought to you by WELS Discipleship.
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.
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