The deception that took place in the Garden of Eden has caused the greatest travesty to take place on a global scale. Every person born is born into slavery. This world is dark and decaying because of sin. There is no possible way for a man to save himself. He needs a hero, a savior, a redeemer, that can stand in the gap and proclaim your acquittal. Many of you know about Him, but do you really know Jesus and are you living each day in honor of what Jesus did for you on the cross?
Look what Luke 4:18-19 has to say about your Hero, Savior, and Redeemer, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, and the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
The verses quoted in Luke 4 come from Isaiah 61:1-2. Jesus wants you to know that you need Him. In sin, you are held captive by it. He will release you, help you to see clearly, and set you free from the oppressive ways of this dark world. In the Isaiah passage, you get a clearer description of what Jesus does for you. “(God) has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted.” He understands how hard life is apart from Him. You were not made to live separately from God, but sin caused a separation to occur. In His unconditional, undying love, God sent His Son to be your Savior.
“Prisoners will be freed.” As long as you live outside of Christ, you are a prisoner in this world. You choose to live by its ways and not God’s ways. While you may experience great success on this side of heaven, without Christ, you will come to an end when God stops your heart. Those in Christ, who live for Him, will be taken into eternity and abide with God forever.
“(God) has sent Me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” God gives every person chances to choose His Son. His mercies are new every morning; see Lamentations 3:23. God gives you new hope each day to find Him and learn from Him and worship Him. You are called to walk in freedom with Christ on a daily basis. This is where true freedom is experienced.
Take time to read the rest of Isaiah 61. There is Good News for the oppressed! As it says in verse 10, “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For HE HAS DRESSED ME with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.” The Lord is the only one who can set you free from captivity.
Today, where are you held captive? Your own misguided thinking, you trust yourself over the Sovereign God, thus you don’t need to rely on God’s Word? You are content being self-reliant. You are in a prison cell of regret, disappointments, unmet expectations perhaps? The vices that comfort bring more pleasure to you than Jesus Himself? So, you fill your days with empty activities. You are not alone in your battles for every one of us battles being held captive.
The good news is that God can set you free! He came to set every person free!
Live in God’s presence and learn and grow from Him. This is where true freedom lies. From this point, God will lead you to becoming a living example of His love to others. Be released from the ways of this world and embrace Christ. He will set you free.
May this Fourth of July be a day of celebration not only for the freedom we experience in the United States, but more importantly, the spiritual freedom you experience from the Trinity.
May God bless you as you seek to know Him personally.
(I am going to take a break with the holiday this week and next week. I am going to enjoy my son and his family as they are visiting next week.)
Carol J German 