Good morning, Lord Jesus. I surrender to Your name and Your nature. Come have Your way in me this day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
"What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves to sin have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness" (Romans 6:15-18).
I'm no longer a slave to sin. You've broken those chains and opened those bars to set me free. "If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). It's not that I no longer sin anymore -- sadly, I still may miss the mark -- but it's that no I longer have to be in bondage to it, enslaved by it, bound up, locked up and left for dead in the dark of it. "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set (me) free from the law of sin and death!" (Romans 8:2)
The word “odeience” is found 3 times in the passage above. That is because my freedom comes out of my obedience to Jesus and His teachings, those that are found in our Bibles. James 1:22 tell’s us, ‘But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves..” So Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, set me free to be obedient to You "from the heart" because You've changed my heart. It' not "from my head" or "from my will-power" or "from my trying so hard with all my might not to do the things I really wish I could do and get away with it if You weren't always with me." No, it's "from the heart." You've created in me a clean heart and renewed a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). And every day I keep opening my heart to You, You keep creating in me a clean heart and renewing a right spirit within me (Philippians 1:6).
Now every day, I'm free to live in obedience for righteousness instead of sinfulness -- not because You're making me do it but because I want to do it -- "from the heart." Your Spirit at work within me is giving me Your right desires to live in the might of Your power "from the heart" You've given me.
Jesus You know my heart. I know I have a long way to go. But I know I'm on the journey, as You keep changing my heart and my desires. As it turns out, the freedom You've given me to join with You on this journey of obedience is a very joyful journey. As You said long ago: "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:10-11). This is my joyful journey of obedience in You "from the heart" You've given me and keep giving me every step along the way. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My family, as you walk out your door and begin the journey of another week, I pray you're filled with joy on your journey of obedience with Jesus, living from the clean heart and right spirit the Lord has created I you and is renewing in you every step along the way, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friends!
Please take a 5 minutes now to listen to this song, “No Longer Slaves.” . When the song is over offer up to Jesus any sin in your life you want released from and burned to ashes.
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
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