Christ Has Set Us Free - The Crosswalk Devotional - May 11
Christ Has Set Us Free
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“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).
When we think of freedom, we usually think of America gaining independence from Britain. In America, this is what we celebrate on the Fourth of July—our independence. It is common for us to celebrate our independence and freedom today, yet most of us still live in a prison we have constructed for ourselves. Despite the Lord having already set us free by blessing us with salvation, we are still living in a manufactured prison.
Whenever we actively live in sin, we are building a prison around ourselves. Even if we might think we have everything “covered” or “controlled,” we do not. We are never in control of sin—it is controlling us. This is why we must not become calloused to sin. Sin is sin, no matter what sin it might be.
Many people think certain sins are more severe than others, but all are equal. If we commit one sin, it is just as bad as committing all. This is because God does not treat sin lightly. There are consequences for our sins that will prevail in our lives. We might think we control everything, but when things start turning sour, we can only blame ourselves.
Sin is not good, and as Christians, we don't need to promote it. I have seen too many people turn away from God by engaging in a life of sin, and it only eats away at their hearts. Rather than continuing to live in a state of slavery to sin, we need to step out of the chains. The Lord has already set us free, and we must continue to walk in this freedom.
Jesus’ Freedom
The Apostle Paul tells us, “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). As Paul says in this passage, Jesus has set us free. With this freedom, we need to stand firm and not allow ourselves to be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. The freedom the Lord has given us is eternal, constant, and steadfast.
We must enter the light instead of locking ourselves away in our prisons. In this light, we see Jesus and the freedom He died for us to possess. Freedom is never given for nothing. Instead, Jesus had to die for our sins for this freedom to come to us. With this in mind, we must take hold of this freedom, turn away from sin, and bring glory to the Lord. Praise Him, thank Him, and walk in obedience to His Word.
The more we do this, the more we will begin truly living in the freedom of Christ. Maybe we are not struggling with a specific sin right now, but we are dealing with fear. We don't need to let fear keep us in prison, either. With the Lord’s freedom, we can step out of our prison of fear and walk in the confidence of the Lord. Jesus is always protecting us, and there is no reason to fear.
No matter what you are being held as an enslaved person today, give it over to Jesus. He has already given you freedom; it is time to take it. The Lord loves us and wants us to live in the freedom of the abundant life He has given us. There is no time to continue to be a slave to sin, fear, or anything else. Jesus has set us free, and this freedom will never be taken away.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are you currently walking in the freedom of Jesus? Why or why not?
Does the prison of sin, fear, or something else cause you to feel safer? If so, explain.
What would it look like to remove yourself from your self-made prison?
“Dear Jesus, I've been living in a prison for too long. You have set me free; I'm taking hold of it today. Whenever I start drifting back to my prison, please pull me toward You. Thank you for your freedom, Lord. I know you went to great lengths to set me free. I praise You, Amen.”
Further Reading:
John 10:10
2 Peter 2:19
John 8:36
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/m-imagephotography
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