Saturday, April 2, 2011

Read | John 8:31-36
At the time when Jesus was born, the Israelites were experiencing great oppression. They looked forward to the promised Messiah, who would bring freedom and victory.
But instead of overtaking the Romans, Jesus spoke about respecting authority and loving enemies. Rather than win victory for the Jews alone, He brought blessing even to despised Gentiles (John 4:4-30; Luke 7:6-10). The people expected Him to overpower the domineering nation through battle, but He allowed those in authority to crucify Him.
So the Jews rejected Jesus. Surely, they thought, this was not the promised Savior who would liberate the chosen people. They failed to understand that Christ was most concerned about the freedom of our hearts. He came to release us from the sin bondage in our lives, but He does not always free us from our current circumstance.
A letter I received illustrates this beautifully. After 15 years in prison for habitual criminal acts and drug addiction, the writer shared that everyone had given up on him. He felt hopeless until he was saved and began following Jesus. Now, the bitterness and anger are gone, and he is filled with joy and peace. He has been liberated. He still faces temptations and he still is in jail, but he has experienced true freedom.
Jesus came for you—He died to pay your sin debt. Have you accepted His free gift of salvation? His power can tackle sin in your life, and His truth can overcome harmful faulty thinking. Walking with Him is truly walking in freedom, so lean on His strength, and choose the right path.