Have you ever stopped to consider how much Jesus Christ loves you?
There is a beautiful story told about an African lady who was taken by cruel men who captured people and brought to various parts of the world to trade them as slaves. This young lady was taken with several others and, to America. She was taken to the East coast of the states and there, she was put on a block and auctioned off to the highest bidder. Men were bidding for her including two men in particular who were planning to use and abuse her. At that time an old southern gentleman walked in and he knew these men and he knew their character and he knew their motivations. Rather than seeing this young lady abused, he made a bid and outbid everyone.
In the meantime he had the blacksmith come down and the beautiful young lady was brought to him. Her hands were tied behind her back with ropes and her feet shackled with chains. She stood there and thought, “What does this old gentleman want with me?” With that, he said to the blacksmith, take your hammer and smash the shackles off her feet. With one blow, the shackles were broken. He took his knife and cut off the ropes and both the ropes and shackles lay at the young lady’s feet.
Finally she said, “Sir, why did you buy me?” He looked at her and said, “I bought you to set you free.” Two thousand years ago, God the Father sent His Son to die on the cross to set you free. In Luke Chapter 4, Jesus said that He was sent to proclaim release to the captives. The cruel master of sin has shackled us. Enslaved by a cruel foe. It took the power of Jesus Christ stepping in to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. He who knew no sin became sin that we might become right with God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith… and that not of yourselves it is the Gift of God, that no one can boast.” He purchased us with His blood from the slave market of sin, “Precious Blood.” Powerful liberating blood of the Lamb of God. He transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”If the Son shall make you free, you are FREE INDEED!”- John 8:32
The cross of Christ broke the power of satan and sin in your life as the ruling authority. God sent the Lord Jesus to set you free. He set you free for a purpose… to love Him, but also to love others. Galatians chapter 5 verse 13 says, “For you were called to freedom brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh but, through love, serve one another.
You are released to love God and you are released to love others. Today, remember the great love God has for you… that on that cross His Son died to liberate you and break the shackles of sin that you may love Him and love others.
Thank God for His Love. Thank God Jesus is the Friend of sinners. Thank God for you He is Hope. Thank God He did for you what you could not do for yourself. You could not make yourself right apart form the Lord Jesus and His cross.
The price of your spiritual freedom? The death of Jesus Christ!
Praise Him!