Freedom

July 8th – Romans 8:15

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Romans 8:15

The moment we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are set free. Freed from the bondage of sin with its fear, despair, and destruction. The Lord takes from us the spirit of slavery and replaces it with the spirit of a beloved child of God. Now we can approach our Master not with fear and trembling, but with love and gratitude. For in His grace, God sends His Holy Spirit to take up residence inside us. And the Spirit reminds us daily of our freedom through Christ so that we don’t return to slavery and fear. Because God doesn’t want us living in shame, defeat, and remorse. Instead, He wants us to live freely and with confidence. Confidence of who we are through Christ, adopted sons and daughters into God’s family. Sons and daughters who can approach the throne of God and cry out, “Abba! Father!”, and know He will welcome us with open, loving arms.

July 8th – Romans 8:15 Read More »

July 7th – 1 Corinthians 6:12

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

1 Corinthians 6:12

Through Christ we have freedom. Because of His fulfillment of the Law, we now live under grace. Unfortunately, like the Corinthians, some Christians use that grace as an excuse for sinful behavior. But Paul makes it very clear. Although all things may be lawful, they may not be profitable The liberties we receive through Jesus are only good if they don’t bring us into bondage, or make fellow believers stumble in their walk. Anything that we value above God, whether it be people, substances, or things, is sin. And any behavior we exhibit that harms or offends other Christians is also sin. As followers of Jesus, the grace He died to give us means that we are called to live by a supernatural standard. A standard only achieved when we live for the Lord, die to self, walk in truth and love, and submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

July 7th – 1 Corinthians 6:12 Read More »

June 6th – Psalm 118:5

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Psalm 118:5

Although we may not find ourselves on a physical battlefield surround by enemies, we are in a real war for our very souls. For as Paul warns us, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephs. 6:12) The battle is real, and against the ruler of this world, Satan, we need all the help we can get. We need the protection of almighty God. For we cannot win the war on our own. And crying out to God in our distress is our greatest weapon. Because the Lord answers the pleas of His children, and like He did with the psalmist, God will set us on a high place. A place of freedom on all sides for our hearts and minds. And a freedom no enemy can take away.

June 6th – Psalm 118:5 Read More »

July 5th – Romans 6:22

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Romans 6:22

Even after we accept Jesus as our Savior, we still keep sinning. Why? Because we are fallen beings born with a sin nature. And that will never change until we are called home by the Lord. However, the power of sin to bind and enslave us was defeated at the Cross. Through His death, Jesus not only paid our sin debt, He also broke the hold sin has in our lives. That means instead of being slaves to repeated, purposeful, destructive sin, we are free to be slaves to Christ. To be a slave of Christ means abiding in Him and submitting our will to His. And it means living lives that reflect the goodness of our Master. Jesus purchased each of us at a great personal cost, and our desires should always match the One who gave His blood to redeem us. Paul and Peter joyfully called themselves slaves to Christ. For they knew the reward awaiting the servants of God, the gift of an eternity spent in His presence!

July 5th – Romans 6:22 Read More »

July 4th – John 8:36

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

John 8:36

Jesus said that everyone who believes and abides in Him would know the truth, and the truth would set them free. (John 8:31-32) Each of us is born into the bondage of sin, dead in our trespasses, and separated from God. And the only way we can gain freedom, eternal life, and liberty, is through the blood of Christ. Jesus came to set us free. Free from the slavery of sin, the curse of the Law, and death. Because of His great sacrifice, we have the freedom of life eternal. And that is the greatest freedom of all. A freedom no person, no government, nor even Satan himself can take away. There is no other freedom like what we have in Jesus. No money can buy it, no status can obtain it, no works can earn it, and nothing can match it. It is a gift offered by God through His Son. And a gift no one can take from us. For if Jesus sets us free, we are free indeed!

July 4th – John 8:36 Read More »

July 3rd – 1 Peter 2:16

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

1 Peter 2:16

As Americans, we value our personal freedoms. And as Christians the personal freedoms we enjoy were purchased by Christ at a high price. Jesus shed His precious blood to free us from the bondage of sin and death. And we are not to use that freedom as a free pass to live a life of sin. Peter exhorts Believers not to use the gift the Lord gave as a “cloak of wickedness”, but rather to use our freedom to serve God. For we are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.” (1 Pet. 2:9) We are Christ’s representatives on earth. And as such, we need to be examples of His patience, grace, and obedience. To show the world that freedom tempered with self control and love, honors all people. And by obeying the will of God in loving obedience, we silence the unbelieving ignorance of a lost and wicked world. (1 Pet. 2:15)

July 3rd – 1 Peter 2:16 Read More »

July 2nd – 2 Corinthians 3:17

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

2 Corinthians 3:17

This weekend as we celebrate the Fourth of July and our hard fought freedoms, I can’t help but think of Patrick Henry who so famously said, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” The Greek word for liberty is “Eleftherios”, meaning personal freedom from servitude, or oppression. And that just what Jesus came to do, to set us free spiritually. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became the perfect fulfillment of the Law. And once we receive Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell every believer. And through the power of the Spirit we are, “released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit” (Rom.7:6) And this liberty empowers us to deny the flesh and our own selfish desires for the purpose of glorifying God!

July 2nd – 2 Corinthians 3:17 Read More »

July 1st – Galatians 5:1

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Galatians 5:1

Because of our fallen nature, it is hard for us to truly grasp the freedom we have through Christ. The perfectly simplistic message of the gospel, grace through faith in Jesus Christ, seems too good to be true. And so we try to add to it. Through legalism, good works, and man made ritualistic ceremonies, we try to earn our salvation. But God is very clear. There is nothing we can do to purchase the freedom that Jesus died to give us. It is a gift offered by God alone, and received by faith. And so Paul urges us to break from our bondage and walk in that freedom. To give the up the yoke of slavery and take up the yoke of Jesus who says, “Take My yoke upon you and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29)

July 1st – Galatians 5:1 Read More »

April 7th – Galatians 3:28

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Galatians 3:28

When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he declared all men (and women), were created by God equally. And where did he get such a notion? From the Creator of all Himself, God. For it is the Lord who declares that He came not just to save a few, but to save all. And His love isn’t reserved for just His chosen favorites. Instead out of His great love for each and everyone of us, Jesus came and laid down His life so that any and all who believe on Him can have eternal life. And when we receive Him as our Savior, we become equal, adopted heirs into God’s kingdom and members of His one, single church.

April 7th – Galatians 3:28 Read More »

February 8th – Galatians 5:13

Leave a Comment / Daily Devotional /

Galatians 5:13

Once we lived under the burden of the Law. But with His death and resurrection, Christ became the perfect fulfillment of that Law. His sacrifice purchased the freedom for us to now live under grace. But make no mistake. That grace is no “license to sin” card. It doesn’t give us liberty to lead lives dedicated to fleshly desires. Instead the grace extended to us through the blood of Jesus, gives us the freedom to serve others in love. To set aside our worldly nature for a Christlike one, which values the needs of others above our own.

February 8th – Galatians 5:13 Read More »