Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NRSVUE
Several years ago, my mom and stepdad had a parakeet, Jenny. Jenny’s cage was in the large picture window, and she would look outside and sing. Although her cage confined her, something about looking beyond where she was to the sky outside gave her hope. Whenever they cleaned her cage, Jenny was released from her cage, albeit temporarily, to experience a little of that freedom she saw outside.
We are like Jenny, freed from her cage when we receive the Holy Spirit. God sets us free from the bondage of sin and death. He gives us the freedom to live a life that is pleasing to Him. He releases us to live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
There are all kinds of things that hold us in cages. Shame? Anxiety? Addiction? Thanks to the Holy Spirit, we don’t need to remain trapped. Through Jesus Christ, we have hope.
God, thank you for the transformative freedom of the Holy Spirit. We confess we have locked ourselves into cages and can’t open the doors ourselves; we need you. Free us and help us to learn to live by your freedom. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Tim
I am taking a brief hiatus beginning Monday, November 13. The devotion will resume when I return on Tuesday, November 21.
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