Joy: 37-Day Devotional预览

God wants us to be FREE! Free from sin, free from the bondage to corruption, and free to love Christ and others. What are you in bondage to? What causes you to lose sleep? What difficulties in your life do you want to move past? God wants YOU to escape the captivity that is consuming you and experience freedom that comes from loving and knowing Jesus. You can be set free by simply trusting and handing everything over to God. I wish I could say I no longer struggle with sin, stress, anxiety, and selfishness; but that’s not the case. If only I could constantly be reminded of Romans 8:28 NASB, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” We have no reason to worry about anything; we have been set free! 

Though we have been set free, we are given the warning, “Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” This opportunity for the flesh happens when our focus moves from Christ-centered to being me-focused. When selfishness motivates you, you are giving the flesh an opportunity. When Christ’s love motivates you, you will, through love, serve one another; it is then when you can be truly satisfied. Romans 8:6 states, “The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”

The more you are filled with Christ, the more you will experience “life and peace.” How are you being filled with Christ? Are you overflowing with His love? 1 Samuel 12:24 states, “Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you.”

Lord, I desire that “life and peace” that Jesus gives when He has my whole heart. Help me to see that Christ is all-sufficient: my all in all. I thank You, God, for calling Your people into freedom. Help me be free to experience the fullness of Christ and, in His love, serve one another. Amen.