"And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, 'Woman, you are freed from your sickness.' And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, 'There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day." Luke 13: 10-14 NASB
The word study for today provides a shocking truth, and one we do well to understand and embrace. When Jesus spoke those beautiful words, "Woman, you are freed," the word He used was apolyō. This word indicates the liberty to depart from captivity has been given. Jesus told the woman she could be free if she wanted to be free.
Freedom was hers for the taking.
This is a profound truth and one we need to embrace. We can be free if we choose to be free. Jesus offered her freedom, but she had the option not to accept freedom.
We, too, have the option for freedom as well as the freedom to decline our release from the captivity of sin.
It's all too easy to develop a kind of moral Stockholm Syndrome, whereby we become so enamored of our captor (Sin) that we choose to remain in bondage rather than accept the freedom only Christ can give. It's spiritual madness to choose our prison of sin, but we do it, don't we?
We do not have to remain in bondage to those sins that hold us. Jesus died and rose again to set us free from the penalty of sin we could never pay. If, then, we have been set free, why do we continue in such sin?
If we want to be free, our Lord will grant us liberty.
Our freedom is a gift, but it is also a choice. Since Freedom in Christ has been bought and given, let us accept this free gift of God, embrace the dearly-bought liberty, and live as those who have been redeemed.
How can we live free? We must refuse to return to the sin that has held us, relying on the power of God to give us the will to overcome. He will help us. He will see us through. We can live free. If we will.
We have a choice. Do we want to continue in bondage to Sin? Do we want to live in the freedom from Sin Christ has purchased for us?
May we choose freedom so that others can see the power and love of Christ in us.
Freedom was hers for the taking.
This is a profound truth and one we need to embrace. We can be free if we choose to be free. Jesus offered her freedom, but she had the option not to accept freedom.
We, too, have the option for freedom as well as the freedom to decline our release from the captivity of sin.
It's all too easy to develop a kind of moral Stockholm Syndrome, whereby we become so enamored of our captor (Sin) that we choose to remain in bondage rather than accept the freedom only Christ can give. It's spiritual madness to choose our prison of sin, but we do it, don't we?
We do not have to remain in bondage to those sins that hold us. Jesus died and rose again to set us free from the penalty of sin we could never pay. If, then, we have been set free, why do we continue in such sin?
If we want to be free, our Lord will grant us liberty.
Our freedom is a gift, but it is also a choice. Since Freedom in Christ has been bought and given, let us accept this free gift of God, embrace the dearly-bought liberty, and live as those who have been redeemed.
How can we live free? We must refuse to return to the sin that has held us, relying on the power of God to give us the will to overcome. He will help us. He will see us through. We can live free. If we will.
We have a choice. Do we want to continue in bondage to Sin? Do we want to live in the freedom from Sin Christ has purchased for us?
May we choose freedom so that others can see the power and love of Christ in us.
~~~~~~~
Our Father, help us to choose the freedom only you can give. Help us to relinquish our desire for sin and choose righteousness. In Jesus' name, Amen.
#thechoice #freedfromsin #disciple #JesusChrist #Biblestudy
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