JUMP, JUMPER!

What would you DO, if you could do ANYTHING in the world? What would you BE if you could be ANYTHING in the world? What would it take for you to live with sacred joy? What would it mean if we shut out all of the lies that paralyzed us in fear? What would it mean for us to take a flying leap into the unknown, but KNOW that Jesus was right there, right beside us? What would it take for you to know the TRUTH, and have it set you FREE?

“You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32 TLB 

“If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32 NIV 

“If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.”  

John 8:31,32 The Message 

I love the last version of this verse! If you “STICK WITH THIS”. Doesn't it feel like that sometimes? Doesn't it feel like, in certain seasons, that we are just sticking with it, holding on, barely breathing?

The word "hold" actually means: to abide, live in accordance with, dwell within, adhere to, are faithful to...

Most of us could quote John 8: 32 by memory. “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (NIV). It's quoted in movies, songs, on TV and in our churches! But vs 31 is often left out and yet it is the hinge to our freedom. In order to be free, we must abide in, live in accordance with, dwell within, adhere to, be faithful to, HIS WORD!  HOLDING = FREEDOM!! If you want to know truth and want to be free, then we MUST begin to live a certain way. We must begin to stay, remain, give our life. Stay WITH Him. Remain IN Him. Give your life TO Him.  

Sometimes it takes every ounce of strength to HOLD. Sometimes it takes every ounce of patience to remain, to STAY. Sometimes it takes a flying LEAP, to give your life fully to Him. And every. single. time it results in freedom. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Stay - when you feel like running from Him. Hold - when it feels like everything around you is letting go. Jump - because you were born to jump, Jumper!!! When we stick with it, when we stay in His word & in His ways when things get hard (because we KNOW they will), the reward is a beautiful life of FREEDOM! Fight it out. Don't give up. Don't let your guard down for even ONE minute because at the end of this season there is triumph and freedom. This pain you're experiencing will end and with it will come freedom from the lies you've believed, from the weight you've been carrying, from the condemnation you've been feeling. Remain in HIM, in HIS Word, in HIS ways. HOLD to His teachings. Keep your eyes on him.  

So, I ask again. What would you DO if you could do ANYTHING? What would you BE if you could be anything? Often we confuse "DO ANYTHING" with an occupation. Maybe it's teaching that Sunday School class, taking over the Christmas Musical, taking piano lessons for the first time, doing a 5km run for Cancer, maybe it's walking into a church for the first time in YEARS. Maybe 'BEING' is being kind to the person that wounded you, maybe it's loving the unlovable in our cities, maybe it's being honest with ourselves and our brokenness and holding tight to His word because, really, it's all we've got. If holding onto His word results in freedom, then JUMP. If you are a follower of Jesus you are a jumper. YOU. ARE. A. JUMPER.   

JUMP, JUMPER!

Tara W.