Free Inside

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Matthew 1:20-21

20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Today's reading:   Jonah 1-4 Revelation 10

Free Inside

An entire generation has never known freedom but, with an overthrow of the cruel dictator, now they are free and many do not know what to do. One man said,

"We got the dictator out of our country but now we must get him out of us."

Captive on the outside and captive on the inside-that is what we are without God in Christ Jesus-captive.

I cannot imagine being held captive in my own country by a dictator. Can you? But without Christ, we are captive-no matter where we live.

But, thanks be to Almighty God, God made a new covenant with Israel.

Here is some of what Jeremiah 31:31-34 says "I will make a new covenant with Israel-not like the one I made with their Fathers-I will write my law on their hearts-I will be their God and they will be my people-they will all know me from the least to the greatest-I will remember their sin no more."  

In Christ, we are recipients of God's new covenant and the Holy Spirit tells us so. Romans 8:

16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ— if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Free from outside influence of obligation, oppression, pain-we are free forever in our beings-heart, soul, or mind-free indeed(John 8:33).

Advent means absolute freedom forever. Thank You Lord God for Your gift of Christ Jesus!

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Name above all names and light of Your kingdom, give me today Your daily bread for me. Forgive me for lingering hate. Lead me away from it.

Adonai Elohim-great God of the universe,

In The name of Christ Jesus,

Amen