Deeper Devotional

Freedom from Sin
Read Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV)

Freedom is one thing that many Americans take for granted. It is often defined as the ability to do what ever we want to do. The dictionary defines it as exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. and the power to determine action without restraint.

If asked, “In the story of the Exodus what did Moses say to Pharaoh?” most people familiar with the account would answer, “Let my people go.” But that is not the whole story. The word of God that Moses delivered to Pharaoh actually was “Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness.” (Exodus 17:6) We have said that the story of the Exodus is a historical account of the Hebrews being set free from bondage. But they were not turned loose just to go off and do what ever they wanted to do. They were set free to enter into a relationship with God as His people and serve Him. They would be either servants of Pharaoh or servants of Almighty God.

Also, the Exodus serves as a picture of deliverance from sin. Our choice is either to be servants of sin or servants of Almighty God. Christ has set us free that we might serve God. When the Hebrews rebelled against God and refused to serve Him they wandered in the wilderness until they died. (Numbers 32:13) In like manner we are not set free from sin to serve ourselves and do whatever we want to do. If that were the case we would wander back into sin because it is our very nature to sin. Mankind cannot free itself from sin any more than the Hebrews could free themselves from the bondage of the Egyptians. (Jeremiah 2:22) We would return to our bondage of sin just as the Hebrews talked about returning to the bondage of Egypt when they refused to serve God. (Exodus 14:11-12)

What we do not understand is that true freedom can only be found in Jesus Christ. We are made by God to serve Him. God had called the Hebrews to be His people and to serve Him. All freedom and blessing rested in that calling. Our freedom and blessing, our peace and provision all rest in God calling us into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:9) Therein lies true freedom the like of which we have never known before. (Ephesians 3:20)

The Source of Great Joy
Read again Romans 7:14-25, but this time read it in the paraphrased Message version. Also read John 15:1-11

Paul talks about the conflict that he struggles with wanting to do what is right and then doing just the opposite. The last two verses in the paraphrase are great. He says (verses 24- 25) “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.”

Elsewhere Paul says that Christ is in you and this is a hope for God’s glory (Colossians 1:27), and this can be a source of great joy. (Psalm 16:11; 21:6) Jesus has put the Holy Spirit within us. (Acts 13:52; Romans 14:17) Christ’s presence is light to overcome the darkness (1 John 1:4-5), and we have nothing to fear (1 John 4:4). The good news is that it is not up to us to overcome sin, but rather it is Christ working in us. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

As you pray today give thanks for the Lords presence and His faithfulness to you.

The Battle
Read Romans 7:14-25 (NIV); Psalm 50; Daniel 9: 3-20

We speak about the power of God working within us. (Ephesians 3:20) Yet in a very real way we know the struggle that we have with sin in our daily lives. We are not alone. The great characters of scripture struggled as we do. Although they walked with God, spoke with God, and served as godly examples, they too struggled with sin. They are what we might call the “superstars” of scripture. Here are some things they said about themselves:

The Apostle Paul says, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” (Romans 7:14)

David said, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” (Psalm 51:3-4)

Moses said, “You have placed our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.” (Psalms 90:8 )

Daniel said, “So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances.” (Daniel 9:3-5)

The point is that perfect sanctification is not attainable in this life. (1 Kings 8:46; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; James 3:2; 1 John 1:8 NIV) But there will come a time when we will see Christ face to face, and we will be like Him. Until then we press on to be like Him (1 John 3:2-3; Philippians 3:12); to walk in obedience before Him, just as He walked in obedience before the Father.

As you pray today, ask for the Lord’s strength to press on and that the Holy Spirit might continue His work in you to conform you to the image of Christ.

Partakers of God’s Nature
Read again 2 Peter 1:1-4.

We again see in Peter’s teaching that through the power of Christ we receive everything that we need pertaining to life and godliness, and “we may become partakers of God’s divine nature.” (2 Peter 2:4) Look again at that promise for a minute. What was it that Satan promised to Adam and Eve if they sinned and rebelled against God? “You will be like God.” (Genesis 3:5)

Satan’s promise was a lie. His plan was for Adam and Eve to go down a path of sin and make them adversaries of God. Satan would place them (and us) under the bondage of sin. (As we have learned, “Sin will take you to a place you do not want to go.”) Compare Satan’s plan with God’s plan of salvation. God’s way offers us the opportunity to receive of His divine nature and be conformed to the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV) How cool is that? God’s plan sets us free from sin and death and begins to transform us into the likeness of Christ through the Holy Spirit. This is what scripture calls “sanctification.” (Romans 6:19, 22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:7)

But this is not about making us “little gods.” Rather it is about our being restored to the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and to a special relationship with Him. The word “sanctification” means “to be set apart.” We are set apart for God’s holy purpose. And this process starts at regeneration when we put our faith in Christ; when we were “born again.” (John 3:1-6)

It is also important to recognize that sanctification involves more than a mere moral reformation of character brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing our whole nature more and more under the influences of the new nature God has implanted in the soul in regeneration. (Ezekiel 36:26) In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole person. (Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Corinthians 6:19) It is the special work of the Holy Spirit in God’s plan of redemption to carry on this work. (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul says that now that you have had an encounter with the real and living God, why would you want to turn back to the things of the world, the false gods, the sin and degradation that is there? (Galatians 4:9)

As you pray today, consider Proverbs 26:11. Why would you want to turn back to the sins that burden you and weigh you down? The Holy Spirit is there to do a work in your heart, to deliver you. Seek the Lord daily in prayer that you might walk in freedom; to walk in His Spirit; to be a partaker of God’s nature.

Walking in the New Nature
Read 2 Peter 1:1-11

As we look at the subject of dealing with sin in our lives we talk about walking in a “New Nature.” But what does that mean and where does it come from? In our reading today Peter tells us that for those of us who have received faith in Jesus Christ, we have received through His divine power everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:1-3) And through the knowledge of Jesus Christ we have received His promises and we have become partakers of God’s divine nature, thus escaping the corruption that is in the world. (2 Peter 1:4)

Never-the-less Peter tells us to put on certain things as if they were clothes. Read again the list in verses 5-8. These are qualities that we now posses through the work of Christ. Pester says that we actually posses them and they are now ours and they are even increasing. (verse 5) This is actually the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is called “sanctification.” (We will look more at this later.)

But the qualities that Peter describes here are character qualities that we can practice and make part of our lives. Peter speaks of them in terms of “making certain the call of Christ in our lives.” Does this mean that somehow we have to earn our salvation or that we could loose our salvation if we do not do these things? No! What it does do is confirm for us our own salvation. (Have you ever questioned your salvation?) And Peter goes on to say that if we practice these things and build them into our lives as a part of our character, we will never stumble. (2 Peter 1:10) What a great thought! Otherwise we end up blind and walking in darkness. (verse 9).

So the question is would you rather be blind and walking in darkness or walking in the new nature of life with a strong assurance of you relationship with Christ?

As you pray today honestly ask yourself which nature you are walking in? Do you feel that you are walking in darkness or do you find assurance, strength, and joy. What do you need to start practicing? Which path do you need to be walking on?

Little Foxes
Read Song of Songs 2:8-15

The Vulpes thaleb, or Syrian fox, is the only species of this animal indigenous to Palestine. It burrows, is silent and solitary in its habits, and is destructive to vineyards, being a plunderer of ripe grapes (Song of Songs 2:15). Jesus, alluding to the craftiness of King Herod, called him “that fox.” (Luke 13:32). Samson used 300 foxes to destroy the crops of the Philistines. (Judges 15:4-5) The unfaithful prophets of Israel were described by God as being like the foxes in the deserts. (Ezekiel: 3-4 KJV)

In our reading today the writer of Song of Songs gives us a beautiful poetic picture of bridegroom who comes for his beloved in the spring. The growth of the vineyards is a metaphor for their love which is growing. In verse 15 the woman is making an appeal to the ‘daughters of Jerusalem” whom she appeals to throughout the Song to help her keep their love pure. She uses the term foxes as a metaphor for sin when she says, “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, while our vineyards are in blossom.” (Song of Songs 2:15).

Notice that the verse talks about “little” foxes. Can we relate to how much our sins are like these foxes described in scripture. It can be the little sins of our lives that actually plague us the most. They are often buried deep within us. (Psalm 19:12) Like the foxes, they eat away at the foundation of our character. They destroy our spiritual fruit. They prevent us from growing spiritually.

We can look at the big sins like murder or robbery or adultery and we say to ourselves, “I don’t do that.” But what about the small lies we tell. We call them “excuses.” Excuses as to why we are late; why the job wasn’t done on time or why we failed to do what we promised. We blame others or, circumstances beyond our control, knowing all the while that what we are saying isn’t true.

What about the anger we carry within us; the gossip we tell or how we criticize and slander others. The Apostle Paul expressed great concern about this type of sin. (2 Corinthians 12:20).

If we are serious about crucifying the sin in our life we have to pay attention to the “little foxes.” As you pray today ask the Lord to bring to your attention those hidden areas of your life, or the sins that you ignore or minimize. What decision might you make about how you would live your life differently? What little things might you start paying more attention to?