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Living Free: Free From the Wicked
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Living Free: Free From the Wicked

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 2 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day thirty-one with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, can live free from the influence of the wicked.

Free From the Wicked

“But the LORD is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”
Psalm 129:4 (NIV)

How much influence does the deeds of the wicked have on you?  How do you know?  How much influence do your own wicked deeds have on you?  What influence do the sins of your past still have on you today?  Does that influence lead you in a good way, or bad?  Why?  Does living free from “the wicked” mean that you never have interaction with anyone who does bad things?  Explain.  How does God’s righteousness not only free you from the wicked, but frees you from the acts of wickedness?

Our first thoughts in regard to living free from the wicked often turns to freedom from the evil deeds of others.  God does give us freedom from the eternal results of their actions even if we face the temporary consequences of what they do.  But the truth is, God also frees us from our own wickedness and the penalty we deserve because of it.  In both aspects, we are free through the righteousness of God and not as the result of any form of goodness we may have.  As you pray, ask God to help you know freedom from all wickedness.  Pray that you would live free because of His righteousness in you.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free By The Truth
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Living Free: Free By The Truth

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 3 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day thirty with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, can live free because of truth.

Free By The Truth

“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.’”
John 8:31-32 (NIV)

What is your view of truth?  How much value do you place on it?  Why?  Have you ever been caught up in a lie told by someone else?  In a lie of your own?  What had the power to set you free from those lies?  What are some lies that the enemy tries to get you to believe about yourself?  Has he ever lied to you about your value, your beauty, your being loved?  Why are there times his lies are so believable?  How does a careful look and understanding of God’s Word free you from the lies which seek to destroy you?

In a culture that often views truth as relative; God continues to pronounce Himself as absolute truth.  Satan has become very good at making lies believable and it seems that the world is always doing its part to make us believe the lies.  Just as the only thing that will ever overcome darkness is light, the only thing that will ever set us free from the lies of the enemy is truth.  As you pray, ask God to help you see through the lies of this world so that you would know truth.  Pray that you would know the Truth that is Jesus and be set free by Him.  Pray that your freedom would help you walk in truth each day.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free From Traps
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Living Free: Free From Traps

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 4 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-nine with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, can live free from the traps of the enemy.

Free From Traps

“Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.  Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.”
Psalm 31:3-4 (NIV)

Have you ever been caught in a situation that you later realized was a trap that had been set for you?  How did you feel?  How comforting would it be to know you have a ready refuge to help you avoid traps?  After being caught in a trap or two, how useful would it be to have someone with a wider view show you where the traps are and what they look like?  Would you listen?  Would you live with greater confidence if you believed God had the power, and desire, to free you from all traps set for you as well as all traps you fall into?

The nature of traps can lead us to feelings of embarrassment when we fall into them.  Satan then likes to use that embarrassment to keep us from admitting we fell and turning to the One who can free us from the trap.  By gazing intently into God’s perfect law, we can often avoid many of the traps the enemy sets for us, but we can also find refuge and help when we are caught in one of those traps.  As you pray, ask God to set you free from any traps that you currently find yourself in.  Pray that you would look to God and His Word to guide you away from traps that the enemy has set for you.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free To Stand Firm
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Living Free: Free To Stand Firm

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 5 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-eight with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, can stand firm in your freedom.

Free To Stand Firm

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Do you have difficulty in sticking with a thought, belief, or action?  Why?  Would your closest friends agree with your answer?  When you begin something new, why is it often tempting to go back to what was familiar?  How much influence does fear of failing at what is ahead have on our decisions to return to something that wasn’t good?  What role does confidence have in being able to stick with something even through difficulty?  Would assurance of success simply by completing, help you stay with something no matter what?  Why?

I am a creature of habit and generally prefer the familiar over trying anything new.  For me, it can be difficult to stay with something new long enough to see if it will work out.  When it comes to our faith, Christ has set us free with the assurance that it will work out to our benefit if we stand firm and remain in Him.  Knowing that we have indeed been set free by Christ should equip us to stand firm in our faith.  As you pray, ask God to free you from the sin of the past so that you can stand firm in your faith.  Pray that you would help share freedom with others who need to stand firm.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free To Be Impartial
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Living Free: Free To Be Impartial

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 6 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-seven with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, have been set free to be impartial.

Free To Be Impartial

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.  For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:8-13 (NIV)

Have you ever been a “teacher’s pet” in any of your schooling?  If not, did teachers you have had ever have individuals that everyone else felt were the “teacher’s pet”?  How did that make you feel?  How difficult is it to avoid favoritism?  Why?  Do you speak the same way to everyone?  Should you?  Why?  How does the uniqueness of each person influence what impartiality looks like in our interaction with them?  How does gazing into God’s Word help equip you to treat everyone with respect without showing partiality?

While most people would say they are opposed to favoritism when it is shown to someone else, we’re not so quick to condemn it when we are being treated better than another.  When the Bible speaks of favoritism, it is talking about treating people differently based on a variety of outward appearances, rather than treating them honestly based on the character of their heart.  God’s freedom helps us to see each other as equals at the foot of the cross, and because of Jesus, equals at the gates of heaven.  As you pray, ask God to help you live without partiality towards those who walk this journey of life with you.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free From the Snare of Your Words
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Living Free: Free From the Snare of Your Words

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 7 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-six with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, have a way to be free from the snare of your words.

Free From the Snare of Your Words

“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!  Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.  Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.”
Proverbs 6:1-5 (NIV)

Have you ever felt trapped by something you said?  What was it, and what did you do about it?  How difficult is it for you to admit that your words were not accurate, were harmful, were misleading, or were simply not beneficial?  How does humility help to free you from the snare of your words?  What would you give to be able to take back certain words you have spoken?  Can it really be done? 

As much as we would sometimes like it to be so, we cannot “un-speak” a spoken word.  But God does give instruction on how we can live free from the snare our words become.  The best freedom should be obvious — practice self-control and not speak words which would ensnare us.  But since that doesn’t always happen, we can be free through a humility that admits our words were not appropriate and seeks to make them right with the people that were impacted by them.  As you pray, ask God to set a guard on your lips so you can avoid the snare of your words.  Pray that you would live with humility to free you from words that shouldn’t have been spoken, either to you or by you.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free From Sin and Death
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Living Free: Free From Sin and Death

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 8 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-five with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, have been set free from sin and death.

Free From Sin and Death

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

How often do you consider the effects of sin when you think about death?  Does death cause you to think about sin in your own life?  Have you ever felt powerless when it came to overcoming a particular sin in your life?  Why?  If sin has any power in your life, who gives it that power?  Explain.  What do you think gives even the thought of death the power that it seems to have over many people?  How should God setting a person free from sin break the power that death holds over them?

I don’t like the unknown.  My brain wiring seems to make surprises a frightening thing.  For many, I think death is somewhat frightening because of the many unknown aspects surrounding it.  Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the Christian can be set free from the power of sin and death.  Not that our physical body never dies, but the freedom comes in knowing that sin has lost its power to result in our real death — separation from God.  As you pray, ask God to help you believe He has set you free from the power of sin and death.  Pray that you would view physical death differently as you live with confidence in God’s freedom.

In prayer,

Tom  

Living Free: Free To Share the Good News!
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Living Free: Free To Share the Good News!

Freedom.  It seems everyone wants to be free yet we often struggle to even admit when we are not.  When Jesus stated that holding to His teachings would lead people to know the truth that would set them free, the religious leaders bristled at even the hint that they had ever been slaves to anyone or anything.  Over the next 9 days I will be sharing the daily devotions from the book, “Living Free”, that I wrote several years ago to help you discover a life of freedom found through a consistent gazing into, and practice of, the perfect law of God’s Word.

Here is day twenty-four with an important reminder that living free in Christ means that you, and those around you, have been set free to serve others.

Free To Share the Good News!

“Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.”
Mark 1:45 (NIV)

Have you ever been asked to keep a secret that was such happy news that you simply couldn’t keep it to yourself?  What did you do?  Why?  Are there things that happen in your life that you “just can’t wait” to tell others about?  Why?  What are some reasons why you might not share about the good things that happen to you?  Does knowing someone else could experience the same joy that you have, influence your willingness to share good news with them?  Why?

Several times Jesus asked people not to tell others who He was or what He had done for them, but it seems they could not help themselves — they had to share the good news.  Christ has set us free with the instructions for those who follow Him today to share the good news everywhere we go, yet many of us struggle with doing that.   Sometimes I think we make sharing about Jesus way too complicated.  We are set free to simply share the good news of what Jesus has done in our life.  As you pray, ask God to give you excitement over opportunities to share what He has done in your life.  Pray that you would want to share good news with people.

In prayer,

Tom