This is Freedom of Information Day.

Freedom of Information Day is celebrated each year on the anniversary of the birth of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and chief author of the Bill of Rights. The day’s purpose is to focus on the importance of every citizen’s right to obtain government information in a democratic society.

An important part of obtaining truth about the government was established in 1966 through the Freedom of Information Act. This law establishes the public’s right to obtain information from agencies such as the Defense Department, the State Department, and the Central Intelligence Agency.

As James Madison wrote, “A popular Government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own Governors must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives.”

Madison noted that knowing the truth and having knowledge were important elements in a free society. Jesus also taught that knowing the truth was essential to being free. And what is that truth? The Bible tells us that Jesus is truth and the source of truth. John wrote, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17, New International Version). Jesus identifies himself as the truth. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

As the source of all truth, Jesus is able to set us free from our sins, from the consequences of our sin, and from the deception of Satan. Jesus clearly shows us the way to God—and when we know God, we have true freedom.

Jesus’ perfect truth gives us the freedom to be all that God intends for us to be.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

To Do

Complete this sentence, “Because I know Jesus loves me and forgives me, I am free to _________.”

Also on this day . . .

1751—James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, was born.

1926—Physicist Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fuel rocket.

1993—France officially declared that ostrich meat was fit for human consumption.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.