Free

The following is a devotional I just wrote for our church's devotional ministry.

Fourth of July weekend. Fireworks. Stars and stripes. Independence Day. Flag flying high. Freedom. It all paints a picture in our minds, doesn’t it? You have freedom as our society defines it. You are free to speak your mind, to worship as you believe, to travel as you wish. All of that is precious and wonderful.

Picture something else for just a moment.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:16-19)

What holds you captive? Is it fear of failure? Is it the heaviness of sin? Is it worry about rejection? Do you think you do not have the gifts you need to do what God is calling you to do? Are you trapped in a relationship that isn’t healthy? Does loneliness weigh upon your heart? Is anger your companion? What keeps you from the freedom of life in Christ?

Perhaps it is time to declare your dependence upon God. Could it be that you need to hear his proclamation of release?

Hear the good news. You are free from sin, from anger, from fear. You are no longer captive to those burdens that threaten to overwhelm you. You are loved and set free by grace. God has set you free.

You're free to dance
Forget about your two left feet
And you're free to sing
Even joyful noise is music to Me
You're free to love
'Cause I've given you My love
And it's made you free
I have set you free!

(Chorus from Free by Ginny Owens)