Charlyne Cares Daily Devotional - Helping Stop Divorce God's Way

Each Monday we share a guest devotional written by a fellow stander. The views expressed below are those of the writer and may not reflect the views of Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. or the Steinkamps. Guidelines for submitting an original devotional can be found at - http://rejoiceministries.org/ccsubmit.html

Let Freedom Ring

The day after our Independence Day for our country, I am drawn to think about freedom. "Freedom isn't free." Our freedom as a Nation came at a high price for those of our servicemen and women who sacrificed life and limb. They took the oath of office and promised to defend this country no matter what the price to them personally. Some gave up the luxuries of life so that they could protect the very freedom we celebrate. The interesting part of their sacrifice is that it cost them personally in many different ways. Some deal with separation from their families, personal discipline and training. These are needed to keep them in shape to defend this country, and yes, some will deal with physical maladies and even death for the cost of freedom.

Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak or think freely; the state of being free; a special privilege or right of access, especially that of full citizenship of a particular city given to a public figure as an honor.

I like the last definition the best. As Christians we must also remember that our freedom also came at a price. It cost Jesus His very life. Through the price that Christ paid on Calvary's cross, we have become citizens of Heaven.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17

Jesus' death paid the pardon for our sin. Pardon is the act of forgiving or being forgiven for an error or offense. Jesus paid the price with His Blood that has set us free from the law of sin. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and ask Him to be Lord of our life there is ultimate freedom and He grants us a pardon from the guilt and shame of the past. We are no longer condemned to atone for our own sins. Jesus became sin to be the sacrifice for all mankind.

"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. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man." Romans 8:1-3

Jesus paid the price for all. He is not God just for a chosen few. He will deliver those who are in captivity and set the prisoners free.

"He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free." Psalm 146:7

Paul and Silas are great examples of being prisoners and how the power of God can set you free. Because of their witness, the jailer that was in charge of holding them was about to kill himself when he had a personal encounter with God and wanted to be saved.

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God-he and his whole family." Acts 16:25-34

Christ set us free from the captivity of sin. A captive is one who has been taken prisoner or held in confinement having no freedom to choose an alternate. This sounds like how Satan has come in to take over the lives of our spouses. They do not know how to break free from Satan's grasp. We can cry out to God to deliver them.

"So you handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies." Nehemiah 9:27

"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

True freedom comes through allowing Christ to reign on the throne of our lives. We must die to self and He will make us new. In my life the greatest freedom came when I recognized who I am in Christ and the power that He has to fulfill every promise and provide for every need that I have.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

Thank God for the sacrifice of those who have paid the price to grant freedom to this country. Thank Him that Jesus was willing to be rejected by men, suffer the agony and pain of the cross, be separated from His Father and represent sin even though He was sinless. His death and resurrection brought freedom and stamped "Paid in Full" on our souls. Christ paid the ultimate price for our freedom and we need to celebrate that freedom every day.

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." Colossians 1:13

Since you have been set free, it is time to let freedom ring. Don't forget to give praise to your Father for all He has done for you. Don't forget to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Don't forget to pray for those that you know and love for Christ to influence their lives as He has yours. Don't forget the price He paid for you. Let freedom ring on every street corner and in every heart. Let freedom ring!

Standing strong in freedom,
Paige in South Florida
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061 USA
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Devotional Copyright© 2010 Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.

Scripture quoted by permission and are from the Holy Bible; New International Version® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.