FREED

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage. So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free.

Jeremiah 34:8-10

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Yesterday, we saw where God, although holding Judah’s King Zedekiah accountable for the evil acts he committed, was still merciful to him and allowed him to die in peace while in Babylonian captivity, his death followed by an honorable funeral.

As we looked at Zedekiah’s resume from 2 Chronicles (Chapter 36, verses 11-14), there was nothing that would lead us to believe that the grace God gave him was warranted. But as we look at today’s scripture, perhaps we get a different look at the king and how his heart may have changed some while in the midst of adversity.

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage. So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. Jeremiah 34:8-10

Let me set the scene. The city of Jerusalem, where the king of Judah reigned from, was under siege by the attacking Babylonian forces of King Nebuchadnezzar. The Israelites were entrenched inside, trying to defend themselves. There was no real freedom for the Israelites trapped within the fortified city walls and yet ironically, a fantastic freedom event would take place within.

As we read in our word of God for today, the freedom event was sparked by none other than King Zedekiah who made a covenant with his people, proclaiming freedom for all Hebrew slaves. It’s hard to believe the Israelites would even consider enslaving their own but it’s obvious they did or there would not have been a need for the covenant to be made.

So all Hebrew slaves were freed, male and female, and released from the bondage they were under. But despite how amazing this act of mercy and liberation was, it paled in comparison to the greatest act of mercy and liberation ever, a freedom act of such magnitude that it could have only possible come from God.

What act am I talking about?

The act of salvation that God brought to all people, Jew and Gentile, through His one and only Son Jesus Christ.

You see, we are all enslaved to sin. There is nothing we can do about it in this life as we will be shackled to transgression until we draw our last breath on earth.

There was only one way to break us free from those chains.

We needed a Great Liberator.

Enter Jesus who lived a perfect life, ministering and healing and teaching all who came to Him but His greatest mission was to save all mankind by paying their penalty for sin through death before defeating death and the grave, resurrected in power by His Father.

Jesus was the first to break the bonds of sin and after that, anyone who believed in Him as Savior, would find themselves freed from the bondage of iniquity when their earthly life ended.

Question: Can you say with absolute certainty today that you will one day be freed from sin’s bondage, casting off your chains to be ushered by Jesus into eternal life with Him and the Father?

If you have placed your hope and trust in Christ, the answer is an absolute “Yes”!

If you haven’t, won’t you surrender yourself to Him today and allow Him to give you a future that ensures the best is still yet to come.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark
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