October 14th
OCTOBER 14th
You have heard the saying “hurt people hurt people” right? There is a second part of that saying that I just heard the other day: “Hurt people hurt people, but free people free people!”
We have been freed, are we now freeing others? Are you so glad to be free that you can’t help but share that message of freedom with others and come alongside them to bring out of darkness into the light, out of slavery into freedom?
The verse that follows the one we read yesterday takes it further too.
Jude 1:22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Are you snatching anyone from the fire?
The enemy has lied to humans, leading us to believe that our bondage is impossible to defeat. He tries to convince us that whatever it is that has us captive at the moment is unbeatable. Hopelessness and bondage are the result of that lie. We have a message of hope, truth and freedom that everyone NEEDS to hear.
John 8:31-36 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.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Even believers need to be reminded that Jesus has victory over everything. Often we fall short of freedom from things, either because we are not honest about needing help, or we don’t want to do the hard work involved in surrendering it to the Holy Spirit, or we have been convinced that Jesus died for our salvation but all of the other things we wrestle with will always be things we wrestle with because we are not perfect like Jesus was. Certainly we will not be free from struggles with the flesh until we are glorified in Heaven with Jesus, but we don’t have to be slaves to the SAME struggle over and over again. Time for sanctification and self-brain surgery. Replace the lies in the brain with the Truth in the Word. I don’t mean for that to sound simple and easy, but it is Truth! There is Hope! The Holy Spirit came to sanctify us! We just need to submit to the process!
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Let’s be free people that free people today!
Lord thank you for your rescue. Thank you for your victory. Thank you that that victory is not limited to salvation but is able to overcome every hurt, habit, and hangup that I have. Help me to believe this and behave like this. Help me to see it. Help me to surrender it to you. Help me to be a free person who frees others. Holy Spirit remind me everyday that I am here for that purpose. Thank you for your power to overcome!