SIN’S BROKENNESS
Richard Harris
Today’s Scripture: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1, ESV
Theme: Because you are free in Christ, you don’t have to submit to intrusive or enslaving thoughts.
TRAPPED AND RELEASED
In today’s Scripture, Paul is addressing Christians about the slavery, and freedom, of being trapped by and released from sin. He is teaching that we can be burdened by sin; choosing to live our way instead of God’s way. We have been given the grace of joining the Holy Spirit in walking away from that trap. Changing direction comes through repentance.
As humans, we may drift towards sin. Obstacles to freedom lie within us. We lock ourselves into that cold cell of sin, thinking it’s an escape. When that cell door is opened by Jesus’ sacrifice through repentance, we must not turn back. We do this by creating boundaries in our lives to stay away from sin’s traps: alcohol, smoking, sins of the flesh, blasphemy, gambling, and other addictive habits that pull us off the path of righteousness. Jesus has set us free, and it is important for us not to be taken into bondage again. Place guardrails upon that path; stand firm with Jesus, so we don’t steer back towards those things that trap us. He has set us free. The yoke that weighs us down we place upon ourselves through our own choices. Take, instead, the yoke of Christ. His burden is light. Don’t be a slave to the intruding thoughts of resubmitting to that yoke of bondage. Jesus loves us. Let His Holy Spirit do that work in us. Feel the freedom.
Make it Personal: In my own life, I have jumped over a few of those guardrails. Actually, they didn’t exist for a while. Lying, short-cutting, cheating, and bad language pulled me off that path. My yoke of guilt started to become apparent. It was obvious that I was hanging around with some of the wrong people. Those enslaving thoughts became a burden. I recognized it all as what it was – a burden of my own design. I am, today, on the path of freedom that Jesus has provided. We all have such stories of going from darkness to light through our Spiritual growth. What was yours?
Pray: Almighty Father; Upon the miracle of our birth, You gifted us a pure path to follow throughout our lives, yet we somehow find ways to stray away from that freedom through our enslaving thoughts and actions. Your Son was given to us so that the yoke may be lifted when we choose to use the grace given to us to walk away from that trap. We thank You for not giving up on us, giving grace through the Holy Spirit to walk away from those self-created burdens. We thankfully move in the way of the One whom You lovingly gave for our salvation – Your Son, our most Blessed Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read: Matthew 11:28-30, John 3:14-21
Weekly Memory Verse: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4, ESV