Devotion: Free in Jesus

July is a great time to reflect on the Christian roots of America as well as the “freedom” that Jesus came to offer us all. We know about the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence following a time of intense prayer. They knew that they would be in danger, but they believed that Almighty God had created them and us, to be free from tyranny of any kind.

In Luke, Jesus stood up to read in the synagogue from Isaiah 61, and verses 1-3 tell us, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me, to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn. 3 To console those who mourn; To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”Those verses say that what glorifies Almighty God is not cancer, car wrecks, pain, suffering, grief, or bondage to anything, but rather He is glorified when we are not poor; we walk in healing; we walk in freedom; we walk in His comfort and joy; and that we sing His praises, resulting in a toughness and endurance that is the same strength and health found in the trees that live along the river!!

Before Jesus left this earth, He gave instructions to all believers, according to Mark 16:15-18, “15 And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature .... ”

As Believers, You and I are called to be Jesus in the earth; setting people free and sharing the love of Almighty God!