Freedom Provided by God

Prayer – Lord Jesus—You have set us free! There is so much persecution and abuse in this world today—although most of us in middle class America don’t feel it and tend to turn our backs on it. We can’t avoid it—unless we never watch the news or venture outside our homes. Please, Lord, help us not only to see abuse, but to have the courage to stand up for what is right and help others. I think that is just what You’ve called us to do…to love others as we love ourselves.

 

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:3-8

 

Meditate. Consider God’s love in scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

 

Paddling by the bridges at sunset.
Columbia River near Pasco-Kennewick, WA.
Lots of bridges to cross.
Will you choose one and cross it?

Love God…love others. We’ve been chosen and commanded to show and share God’s love. How are each of us going to do that? First it takes a decision—to want to do that. Then it takes a plan to put that into action. God has His plan. At just the right time He will put it into action. Actually, I think it is already in action and has been since the beginning of time. There are still lots of questions. Where do we fit into God’s plan? Are we willing to obediently obey Him, even if it means persecution? Are the persecuted people around the world seeing God’s hand of mercy in their lives? Will you cross the bridge in your relationship with the Lord to demonstrate obedience and how much you love others? What will you do with the freedom that God has provided for you?

 

Verses of Salvation ~ God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. Ephesians 1:9-11

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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