Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 136:10-15
Ps 136:1-3, 10-15
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever… 10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt His love endures forever. 11 and brought Israel out from among them His love endures forever. 12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever. 13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder His love endures forever. 14 and brought Israel through the midst of it, His love endures forever. 15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; His love endures forever.
John 8:31-36
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
While in Egypt, the Israelites knew they were slaves. The lack of freedom and the cruel servitude was real, an everyday fact of life. The Egyptians had the power of life and death over them and dictated every moment of every day in their work and other activities. They belonged to Pharaoh and they knew it.
The Jewish leaders in the days of Jesus on earth did not recognize their bondage to sin. They were slaves of sin but refused to admit it. Because they were the physical descendants of Abraham, they felt they were right with God. In this they found comfort and became smug and self-righteous. They felt so righteous that they set themselves as the standard of right and wrong for everyone.
Paul says we are slaves of whatever we choose to rule over us. We can be slaves of sin or we can be slaves of righteousness. Jesus is the revelation of truth and only when we follow him and his word can we be truly free. Freedom from sin is only found in Jesus and in his sacrifice for our sins when we obey his gospel.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love for me and the freedom you have given me in Jesus Christ. Thank you for revealing your will and a way of salvation from sin. Give me a more committed spirit and a pure heart so I will want to be like Jesus more and more every day. Help me be more determined to know your will as I study your word and give me wisdom to apply it to my life. Use me to help others in their needs – whether physical, emotional or spiritual. I ask that your love overflow in my life to all around me. I pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
