Focus: Freedom
By Lyn Westman, Anastasis
Scripture Reference:
“So Jesus said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.’ As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to these Jews who believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are true disciples of Mine, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’” (John 8:28–32).
Devotional:
Freedom means different things to different people—how free you think you are is influenced by your perspective. In national and international wars, freedom may mean release from tyranny and/or loss of life. For many youth, freedom means release from parental expectations and control. For people of color, freedom means release from discrimination.
Freedom for the Christian, however, is defined in spiritual terms. In Isaiah 26:12–14 it reads: “Lord, You will establish peace for us, Since You have performed for us all our works. O Lord, our God, other masters besides You have ruled us; but through You alone we confess Your name. The dead will not live, the departed spirits will not rise; therefore, You have punished and destroyed them, and You have wiped out all remembrance of them.” This Scripture speaks of spiritual forces, rather than natural forces. The paradox of natural life versus spiritual life is found in Matthew 10:39: “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:31: “I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” Therefore, if we as Christians can recognize the freedom we have in Christ—that our eternity is decided and secure, and that the things of this world have relatively little power in our ultimate existence—we can more easily die daily to sin, earthly circumstances, the expectations of others, fear of the unknown, and internal wrestling. When we truly realize the power given through “Christ in us, the hope of glory,” our daily deliberations will pale in comparison. May we come to realize in greater measure the truth of John 8:36: “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” The price has been paid. We belong to Him. We are set free.
Prayer Points:
* Pray for greater revelation of the freedom we have in Christ and the love that He has for us.
* Pray that this revelation empowers us to live in the freedom we have been given by the blood of Christ.
* Pray that we walk in obedience in response to the indescribable gift we have been given.
* Pray that with the freedom we have been given, we will set other captives free to live without torment in this life and to spend eternity with Jesus.
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