Jesus Set Me Free!
“Jesus set me free from ________” The small group of folks came together before service one Sunday morning last spring, and each member of the group was asked to fill in that blank. What I loved about what happened that morning was that there was no hesitation as every person in the room responded.
“Fear.” “Addiction.” “People pleasing.” “Anxiety.” “The desire to be in control.” One after the other, we rattled off what Christ had taken from our shoulders and borne on the cross on our behalf. The room was full of grateful people who had recognized their need for a Savior and had found that Savior in Jesus Christ.
The believer in Christ remembers well the days of enslavement to a cruel master. Bound by the enemy, we were consumed by a never-ending striving to fill a deep, dull ache in our souls. Empty. Hopeless. Despairing. The dread of a rumored death for those who reject God haunted our thoughts and dreams, and yet our efforts to move toward Him proved futile. Every step was cumbersome and clumsy.
And then…our blind eyes were opened by the Spirit of God! We saw Him running toward us! Independence Day! The Light of the World flooded us with His grace, mercy, forgiveness, welcome, and the great news – our sins had been paid for by the God Who loved us!
In that moment of realization, the shackles of the enemy fell off. We dared to take just one faltering step, testing the veracity of feet unaccustomed to being untethered. Astonished and with faces aglow with almost unbelieving joy, we took another step…and then another. Faster now, laughing, we ran into the fields of our Savior’s freedom!
Gone was the fear of death – we now belonged to the Conqueror! We found the Truth, and He had set us free! The enemy would continue to taunt and tempt, but our King had rendered his schemes eternally ineffectual over the souls of His subjects.
Sitting in that circle on that sweet Sunday morning, I felt proud and happy to be among brothers and sisters unashamed of their pasts because of their love for the One Who holds their future.
Dear Church, we are free indeed! Enjoy your salvation as you always keep in mind your Independence Day! To God be the glory!
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Some “freedom” verses to encourage you today…
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17
“…Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:2
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” – Galatians 5:13
“To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” – John 8:31-32
