Published 12/2/19
Read Romans 6:14
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace."
Reflect
How would your life be different if you truly believed, every moment, that you are free from the clutches of Satan; that you are God's child and heir to His Kingdom? Would you ever have to worry about finances? Would you ever have to worry that you could accidentally fall out of God's love? Would you ever have to seek comfort and acceptance from cheap worldly substitutes for God's real lasting love?
Imagine a child playing indoors when suddenly his ball goes out of control and knocks over one of Mom's figurines. Imagine his fright as he thinks of his mother's reaction. But how surprised would he be if instead of being punished, his mom wrapped her son in her arms and said, "I understand it was an accident, and I still love you"?
Now imagine the same child breaking another figurine on purpose just so Mom would hold him again.
Among the things we can be addicted to, is it possible to be addicted to forgiveness? It's an incredibly powerful feeling to experience mercy and forgiveness when punishment is expected. In that moment you feel loved and accepted; you feel the truth of being forever loved. But like all emotions, it passes. But did the love and acceptance pass too?
For many Christians, that moment of giving their life to Christ, that moment of forgiveness is one of the most intense experiences of their lives. But that time passes and the emotions soon are only a memory. So, what then? Too many people go the way of the child and break something else just to hear God say again, "I love you, and I forgive you."
This is no way to live. It's like an ex-con breaking into prison because that's the life he's accustomed to. Becoming a Christian is about becoming free for the first time. It's about moving beyond the "security blanket" of emotions and living in the secure knowledge of being loved and forgiven by God. We are forgiven and accepted.
Pray
Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for accepting me and giving me true freedom. Amen.