Jesus sets you free; your habits keep you free

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Salvation past, present, and future”

Our Bible verse for today: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Jesus sets you free; your habits keep you free”

There was a notorious prison in 17^th century Italy that was a genuine horror for anyone sentenced to it. No prisoner ever escaped from that prison and none was ever released. The prison was for those with life sentences. If you were sent there, you would die there. The prisoners were brought into the prison by boat through an opening in the dark, massive stone wall. Above the opening in the wall, carved into the stone were the words “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!”

Imagine a prisoner chained to the wall in a small cell in the belly of that miserable place. Suddenly the door to the cell opens, the warden walks in and says, “Congratulations! You have been forgiven and you are being released.” Imagine the sense of relief that washes over the condemned man as he is being escorted out of that prison. Imagine the new lease on life, the hope, the eager anticipation. And then imagine him going right back to his life of crime that put him in that place to begin with.

Say what??!! He’s going back to the very life that put him in that miserable prison to begin with? Why would he do that? He then lives the rest of his life still suffering all the consequences of a debauched, crime-ridden, sin-filled life. And now consider this: Is he really free or is he still a prisoner living in bondage?

As a Christian you have been set free by Jesus from an eternity in hell – but that’s not all He set you free from. He also set you free from a life of sin and the bad consequences a life of sin produces. That’s the full meaning of John 8:36. He has set you free from the eternal penalty for your sin, but He has also set you free from a life of sin now.

Sadly however, many professing Christians have, just like that prisoner, gone right back to the life they have been freed from. Many Christians have had their sins forgiven, but they are still living in bondage to Satan. It is possible to have been set free from the eternal penalty of sin but to still be living in bondage to sin and to spend the rest of your life suffering the consequences of sin.

An encounter with Jesus will set you free but your it’s your habits with Jesus that will keep you free. Since you have been set free from the eternal consequences of your sins, you should now live like you are free from the bondage of sin.

Again, Jesus sets you free but your habits keep you free.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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