TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:34,36 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• I saw it coming: my community has been given a Shelter in Place order that goes from this Friday at 5 PM through April 16th. And from the moment we heard the order, this homebody has never wanted to get out of the house more. Don’t worry, I’ll follow the rules… but what is it about being told NOT to do something that makes us WANT to do it? It’s like the “Don’t touch, wet paint” sign. The paint suddenly becomes a magnet for my finger! I… have… to… touch… it!
Because we’re sinners, we all have a rebellious spirit. It’s part of our sinful nature. And I’m convinced we all have our personal brand of sin. My sin of choice tends to be pride… along with a bit of rebellion and stubbornness… Your brand of sin might be envy. Or lust. Or greed. Or any number of things on the sin-spectrum.
The amazing thing about our salvation is that because of our relationship with Jesus, we don’t have to be a slave to sin! Jesus said in John 8:34 and 36, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
So why do we still struggle, even though we’ve been freed? We are like the freed prisoner who longs for prison. “Shawshank Redemption” defined it succinctly when Red’s character said, “These walls are funny. First you hate ’em. Then you get used to ’em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That’s institutionalized.” We’re institutionalized to sin. But we don’t have to be.
Hebrews 2:18 reminds us, “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Jesus didn’t die on the cross to leave us to fend for ourselves. When He said we are “free indeed,” He meant it! He freed us! No one else did and certainly not ourselves—it is all because of Jesus! He helps us fight our sinful nature!
If a firefighter were to rescue you from a burning building, you wouldn’t pull away from him and crawl out the window on your own at the first sight of blue sky… No. You would continue to cling to the one who is rescuing you! So should we cling to Jesus! He has rescued us from sin and we need to keep clinging to our Savior in order to feel the security and safety of true freedom!
So when sin tempts you… when your rebellious heart yearns to break the rules… to touch the paint…. to do what you know you shouldn’t… Remember the freedom found in Jesus. We’re once saved, always saved–but that doesn’t mean He’s not willing to rescue us again when we sin or when we are tempted to sin. All we have to do is call on Him and He rescues us. But, if we stay close to Him, our Rescuer has already got us safely protected. He saves the day once again.
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus for being your rescuer! Thank Him for breaking the chains of sin and setting you free. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray and turn to Him whenever you’re faced with temptations.
SHARING ••• Please share with others! Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Download a free Bible-In-A-Year Reading Plan when you subscribe! Join an online prayer group at www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandonourkneesprayergroup. ***Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
