To Whom Do We Belong?

Bible Reading: John 8:38-47

---

Today’s Text: Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. —Joshua 24:15

---

Hard words, these found in today’s Bible reading: “You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires” (John 8: 44).

Is it not strange that Christ, who took a zealot named Simon as a disciple and who said to a despicable publican, “Come and follow me,” would put severe conditions on the young rich man who wanted to have eternal life?

But what surprises me most is not that he said to the crucified thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” but that he extended his hand to save me.

And strangest of all is that the harshest words of our Lord were directed toward the scribes and pharisees (Luke 11:44). That is to say, toward those who monopolized truth and religious purity.

For their own purposes, both scribes and pharisees exploited the faith of the people and the memory of Abraham, their father (John 8: 39). Jesus called them “sons of the devil” (John 8:44).

---

Prayer

Lord, free me from the sin of hypocrisy.
Free me from the sin of exploiting your name for my benefit to rise to desired positions.
The highest position is the one you give me, when, kneeling, I ascend toward you.
I want to continue, my Lord, my liberator, ascending on my knees to your feet.

Amen.

Justo González C.