The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"Free Indeed"
"The fear of man bringeth a snare, but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).
Note that Solomon does not declare that man himself brings a snare, but rather "the fear of man" leads to entrapment.
He references our hearts, of course. People can surely ensnare us in countless outward ways, from minor hindrances to actual imprisonment. For born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, however, we alone determine whether our hearts will live freely in the liberty of Christ, or as unnecessarily bound should we forget that "if the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (John 8:36).
As we trust and submit to God through Christ, many temptations challenge our determination to live in the remembrance of His liberating purpose, power, and providence. Our flesh reacts to things people do, enticing us to allow the attitudes and actions of others to determine our own. Amid the temptation to act as if we are a prisoner of our offender, a marvelous opportunity presents itself, namely, the remembrance that we are "free indeed" in Christ. Through Him, we have the liberty to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit rather than the words, attitudes, and actions of others.
"Heavenly Father, what John said to me and the way he said it hurt my feelings. I am tempted to react in kind, and at the very least sulk about it (or at the most, act toward John reciprocally). However, I realize this is a fleshly reaction, and that John has not affected my heart that dwells in the blessed liberty of Christ. Therein, regardless of what I feel in my flesh, I am free to trust You and live toward John in accordance with Your character, nature, and way. Lead me accordingly in the power of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of the Lord Jesus, and in accordance with how You would have me relate to John in this matter. Thank You that I am free to live accordingly, free indeed in Christ."
Only slaves live as controlled and obligated by the words and actions of others. Free men and women live by their own determinations, and in the terms of our present consideration, by the determination of the God who has made us free. Others can tempt us to immediate fleshly reactions. What we do with those reactions, however, determines whether we live in liberty, or as inexcusably bound prisoners of the flesh. No human being or devil has access to the inner sanctum of our being, wherein a free Christ indwells a free spirit. May we remember and affirm by faith that in the moment of our new birth, the prison door that bound our hearts flew open, violently and victoriously torn off its hinges by a rushing mighty wind. Forever thereafter, we have the liberated capacity to live through Christ as free, free indeed.
"And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh."
(Romans 8:10-12)
Weekly Memory Verse
But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:19)
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