God Ponderings

Trust in the Lord

I can’t speak for anyone else, but the chaos of these past two years has left me with some daunting uncertainties about what the future holds. Of course, we can never know what the future holds. But we usually have some idea of how it will be. For me, it was traveling after retirement, financial security, and living in a nation that looked much like the nation of my childhood.

All the changes, all the disappointments, all the swirling controversies – both here in the United States and worldwide – have left me unsettled. It’s been a real struggle! I went through my Jacob phase, wrestling with God. I went through my Jonah phase, pouting in the wilderness while God patiently extended his grace just a little longer. Now I’m in trying to settle into my Paul phase, finding contentment in every circumstance. I’m learning to surrender my plans to God’s plans.

Sometimes the “fright or flight” instinct still rears its ugly head. I have no reason to live in fear because I have a Savior who loves me perfectly.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)

So, I think about running. But where would I run to? Another state? Another country? A desolate island? There’s nowhere to flee from the realities of this broken world. There’s no way to escape, unless God chooses to take me to my eternal home.

Until then, the only safe place to fly is straight into the arms of Jesus.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your hearts before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:8)

No government or political leader can be counted on for refuge. Neighbors who once sat together on the front porch sipping iced tea have taken to turning each other in for Covid-19 mandate infractions. There are violent clashes between groups with opposing ideologies. Even churches and families are badly fractured.

Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

(Psalm 146:3-5)

Christ is our only hope; not people, not money, not possessions. That’s always been true. Perhaps recent events have just made the truth more pronounced. Living for the things of this world is pointless. That’s always been true, too. Perhaps recent events have just made this truth more pronounced, as well.

If we put our faith in Christ, relying on the sin sacrifice He made on our behalf when He died on the cross (and the forgiveness the sacrifice procures when we repent before our most Holy God) we have an eternal hope and eternal glory to live for. Sometimes I find myself more consumed with how I’m going to get through this mess unscathed than on storing up heavenly treasures.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Matthew 6:19-21)

When that happens, when my focus shifts from the eternal to the earthly, God reminds me it’s time to run to Him for refuge. It’s time to hide in the shadow of His wings. It’s time run for me to rest in His unfailing care. He wants you to flee to refuge in Him, too. Trust Him with your whole heart. Even when you face difficult times, you won’t be disappointed.

Trust in the Lord, O troubled soul, rest in the arms of His care.

Whatever thy lot, it mattereth not, for nothing can trouble thee there.

Trust in the Lord, O troubled soul, nothing can trouble thee there.

(Trust in the Lord, Thomas O. Chisholm)

*** Photo COpyright: www.godponderings.com

The Church Victorious, The Church at Rest

We, the church, are embroiled in a battle. And if we aren’t aware of it, we should be.

The church, as a corporate body needs to be actively engaged in warfare for all that God calls good. We, as individuals, (because we are the church) need to be actively engaged in warfare for all that God calls good. We cannot be “the church victorious” if we surrender to this culture which labels all God calls good “evil.”

“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

(Isaiah 5:20)

But how? How do we fight this battle?

On a physical level, we fight by living our lives to the glory of God. We chose obedience when Satan tempts us to violate God’s commands. We exercise self-control when our flesh screams for satisfaction. We speak truth when other voices tell lies. We respond to hatred with God-grounded agape; not a love that gives unchecked license to bad behavior, but one that says, “I love you too much to let you continue down the path of self-destruction and eternal damnation.”

I’m not suggesting it’s easy. I fail all the time! Then the Holy Spirit reminds me I’ve done wrong. I ask forgiveness. I repent. My good Father forgives me, and by the power of the Spirit, I move forward to God’s glory. I’m so thankful for His mercy!

The statement is trustworthy: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

(2 Timothy 2:11-13)

But it’s easier when we understand our battle is not merely physical. We’re really fighting a spiritual war that manifests itself not only in internal struggles, and emotional turmoil, but in physical and intellectual earthly conflicts as well.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

(Ephesians 6:12)

It’s also easier when we go out into the world ready for whatever the enemy (Satan) throws at us. That’s why putting on our spiritual armor is so important.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

(Ephesians 6:13-17)

Truthfully, there are days taking time to sit at Jesus’ feet doesn’t seem feasible. Our Father understands our human frailty, so I don’t want to make this a harsh, legalistic thing. But being prepared for battle is important. Holy habits are important: prayer, studying God’s Word, fellowship, and gathering for corporate worship. God uses these to equip and strengthen us.

As I get older, however, I find the struggle is less about preparation and more about endurance. I’m tired! I want to rest. I don’t want to run the race anymore. Yet, as long as God gives me breath, I’m called to battle. As long as He gives you breath, you’re called to battle alongside me. God left us these encouraging words to spur us on.

Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us.

(Hebrews 12:1)

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

(1 Timothy 6:12)

And He promised, no matter how dismal the odds seem at times, that we (the church) are going to win the war! In truth, the victory was won the morning Jesus left His empty tomb behind. We’re just fighting the good fight until Christ returns or takes us home.

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

(John 16:33)

For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world;

even our faith.

(1 John 5:4)

I borrowed today’s blog title from this portion of Samuel Wesley’s hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation.”

“Till, with the vision glorious (Christ on His throne)

Her (the church’s) longing eyes are blessed

And the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.”

Our day of rest is coming, but it’s not here yet! So…

Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.

(Galatians 6:9)

*Photo copyright: www.godponderings.com

These Times

A few of you may have noticed I took a sabbatical from blogging. All the crazy events of this past year toyed with my heart and my head. I had to work through some things before I could see, and hear, God clearly again.

Things are changing rapidly in our country. It was founded as “one nation under God,” but has thrown its Judeo-Christian foundations out the window. The church, when it stands with God and His truth, now stands squarely against the culture. We are more vulnerable to attack from this unredeemed world than we have been for decades.

If we live God-honoring lives, we will be targets. The church in the United States has enjoyed peace and freedom my entire life. I came to think of that as normal. But scripture makes it clear; this season of peace was a blip on the radar screen of church history. Persecution is normal, not peace.

“Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil people and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” – 2 Timothy 3: 12-13

So, U.S. church (and I ask this question of myself since I’m also part of the church) are we ready? Every day, we inch closer to losing our freedom to assemble and worship God without harassment. I believe the days of the persecution-free church are coming to a close.

^“Blessed are you when the people hate you, and when they exclude you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. “ – Luke 6:22

We shouldn’t be surprised. These verses use words of certainty like “when” and “will” not words of possibility like “if” or “might.” Persecution is already a reality for the church in much of the world. Will we follow their example and be faithful to stand with Christ, no matter the cost?

Or maybe you’re wondering, why should we stand? Why not just go along to get along?

To borrow a phrase from an old hymn “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passin’ through.” Our primary calling, as Christ-followers, is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. That requires obedience to God’s word, submission to God’s revealed will and ongoing direction, and unshakable hope for eternal things yet to come.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

– Matthew 5:10

And how will we stand? How will we stand when we must give up our comforts and conveniences? How will we stand when they come for our homes? How will we stand when they come after our churches and families? How will we stand when it may require our very lives? By the power of God! By the ministry of the Holy Spirit! To the glory of God! To our eternal reward!

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

– Romans 8:16-17

I loved blogging about the amazing ways God reveals Himself through creation. I still see His sovereign hand at work all around me. But in these times, I’m convinced the church needs to prepare herself for rocky days ahead.

So, the focus of my blog will shift to these issues; spurring one another on to love and good deeds, reminding one another of the eternal rewards waiting for those who are faithful to God to the very end, and watching the signs pointing to Christ’s return as they unfold before our eyes. Most crucially, reminding all of us as this worldly battle rages on, Jesus has already won the victory.

These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33

Contentment

Tonight a cold moon casts bold shadows over a crisp snow. Venus hovers in the night sky, outshining all her co-stars. And the Big Dipper hangs low on the horizon, slopping all its contents over the down-turned handle onto the treetops.

Underfoot, the snow creaks a complaint about the weight of my boots. Truth be told, we’d both prefer it was just a little warmer. I chuckle at the thought. Why am I so prone to be discontent? When it’s 85˚and humid, I wish it were cooler. When it’s 10˚ and snowy, I long for a hot summer day. I complain when it rains on a day I planned to go biking. I complain when the sun warms the snow on a day I planned to go skiing. Complain, complain, complain.

A speaker on the Christian radio station recently said complaining is rooted in selfishness. Ouch! But when I look closely at my trivial complaints – about the weather, about circumstances, about the people in my life -I know it’s true. My grumbling is rooted in the gap between my expectations and my reality.

The Father often checks our hearts through the words and insights of fellow believers, then brings us back to the truths in His word. In Philippians 4:10-13, the apostle Paul tells his church family he has learned to be content in every circumstance. And, what’s Paul’s secret to contentment? “I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.” When we rely on God’s strength to see each day as He sees it, we begin to find more contentment. Our focus shifts from our wants and needs to what God is trying to accomplish. When we are grateful for God’s provision of our necessities, we become more content with every unnecessary blessing.

In Philippians 2:14-15, Paul exhorts us to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Why? So we will be “above reproach in a crooked and perverse generation” and a “light in the world.”

Not grumbling and complaining about the blows life deals us is a counter-cultural concept. If we can learn to be content in any circumstances, if we can accomplish our work without grumbling, if we serve without butting heads with those around us, we will be a light in the darkness, a shining ambassador for Christ, a daily testament to God’s faithfulness.

So by God’s incomparable grace and strength, let’s live above the fray to God’s glory. Let’s remember – it’s not about us. It’s about Him!

Be Still

Today a gentle snow falls. Large clusters of flakes tumble earthward, holding hands and dancing to a muted tune only they can hear. It must be warmer today. I put on my coat and head down the snow-cloaked road.

It’s so quiet my crunchy footsteps resound irreverently across the wintry expanse. When I reach the hilltop, I stop. A profound stillness envelops me. I strain to hear something… anything. There’s nothing; not the rustle of crisp, brown oak leaves, not the cheerful call of the chickadees, not a whisper from the wind. My whole world pays silent homage to God.

Winter harbors a deep silence, a penetrating peace that washes over my soul. I smile contentedly. Then I hear something other-worldly, a still, small voice whispering, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) Be still, like a calm, winter day. Welcome silence into your life. Talk less. Turn off the useless noise inside your head. Meditate on My Word more. Turn off the external noise from computers, televisions, radios, and phones. Be still so you can hear Me.

Incessant noise is a cultural curse. (Bear with me here… just venting!) Everything makes so much noise; vehicles, appliances, tools, computers, televisions, radios, phones. Even when people are outdoors, they often have ear buds stuck in their ears. If that weren’t enough, much of the noise is amplified to the extreme that many teens and adults under the age of 60 are running around with hearing losses, many caused by churches, Christian concerts, and Christian camps who have bought into the “loud is good” philosophy.

I realize I’m weird, but I take issue with that. Loud really isn’t God’s modus operandi. Not that God never does loud. Thunder, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, falling trees… all loud. They also seem to have a common thread. All are demonstrations of God’s great might, and sometimes His wrath and judgment. But most of His day-to-day words; words of love, encouragement, reassurance, conviction, hope and peace, are gentle and soft-spoken. Unlike me, God does not usually yell over the noise to get His child’s attention.

If we would hear God, we must be like the wind and the waves on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus “got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.” (Mark 4:39) We must obey the voice of our Maker. We must obediently turn down the volume of all the things screaming for our attention. We must read the Bible and listen for the voice of the Spirit whispering to us. We must find solace in a stillness so deep it penetrates the soul like a calm winter day.

Entwined

Today, as snow-pregnant clouds begin obscuring the sun’s rays, I watch the world outside my window lose its warm glow. Standing in stark gray contrast to its snowy white backdrop, is our little orchard.

Last spring, I asked a friend to come over and give our fruit trees a long-overdue pruning. She carefully considered which branches should go, and which should stay. She thinned out the unhealthy branches, the branches that kept air flowing freely through the trees, and the branches that crowded or crossed other, more crucial branches.

But the pear tree was different. After trimming away the obvious, my friend stopped. In the middle of this tree, two large branches grew together in tight quarters. In fact, one branch rested securely in the fork of the other.

I study those two branches for a moment. They’re so solidly entwined, neither could go without them both suffering. Cut the forked branch, and its neighbor would be weakened. Cut the branch without the fork, and the forked branch would have open wounds (where the branches rub together in the breeze), leaving it vulnerable to disease.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Once we are part of God’s family, our lives become entwined. We need each other for support, and to protect each other from vulnerability. We are stronger together. That’s why God calls us to live out our walks with God within the context of a church community.

The physical, spiritual and emotional turmoil we endure is felt by those who walk with us through difficult days.

The joys and triumphs we enjoy, bring joy to those around us. We weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice. (Romans 12:15)

Like the pear tree’s branches, we’re entwined in one another’s lives — to God’s glory.

Restored

Today we tromp through powdery snow, searching the Christmas tree farm for the perfect evergreen to put in our house. We find one that’s not too tall, or too plump, or too scruffy looking. We settle on a beautiful balsam fir with sturdy branches that will hold our heavier glass ornaments

My husband lays on the ground, saw in hand, ready to begin cutting.

“You’re sure, now? This is the tree you want? Because once I start cutting we’re committed.”

“Yes, we’re sure.” The conviction in our voices frees my husband to put the blade to the tree trunk and begin.

It doesn’t take long for him to saw through the trunk. The tree topples over, sending up a spray of soft snow. We grab the branches and begin dragging it to our car. It will look beautiful sitting in the corner of our living room, decked out with bright lights, and shining glass ornaments, and topped with an angel. For a time.

I’ll prop this Christmas tree up in a stand and keep it watered. But no matter how well I care for it, the tree will slowly die. The needles will dry up and fall off, one by one. By spring it will be brown, rather than green. Now that it’s forever severed from its life-giving trunk, the tree will die. And there’s no way to reunite tree and trunk, no way the tree can be revitalized.

We are born severed from God, fallen Christmas trees cut off from our life-giving trunk. It’s the sinful nature in us that keeps us from being nurtured. Unlike the Christmas tree, however, we don’t have to remain cut off from our Trunk; our Creator and Savior. We can be reunited, restored and revitalized.

That was the whole point of one tiny baby’s birth, a birth still remembered and celebrated 2000 years later. Christ humbled Himself and came to earth as a baby. He walked the earth as a child, died as a young man, and rose as a Savior – all so we could have an opportunity to find true life in His sacrifice for our sins.

When we humble ourselves and seek God’s forgiveness for our rebellion against His Word, His will, and His purposes, He heals the severing wound. As we seek Him earnestly, like the three Wise Men following the star, He nourishes us. As long as we abide in the vine, we will never dry up, never be unfruitful, and never be separated from our life source again.

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

Rooted in Faith

Today is another atypically toasty day. A warm wind whisks away the typical fall chill. I throw my laptop and my Bible in the car and head for my favorite hideaway. Last time I was here, watching crayfish, a high summer sun baked the lichen-covered outcroppings and glinted off the deep green leaves. The wind spoke soothing words of long summer days to come. Today the sun rides low in the southern sky. Crisping leaves tell the story of impending cold, but their showy colors soften the blow.

The sugar maples are always first to strut their stuff. They make their seasonal debut in deep red, rich gold, bright orange and soft peach hues. The sumacs are dressed in their fall best with colors that graduate from gold to red, all on one plant. The pines, in their rich green fur coats, stand in complementary contrast to their boldly clad counterparts. Even they shed some unwanted gold needles. The birches, poplars and oaks, however, are still sporting their green gowns. It takes them a little longer to change out of their summer clothing, but they’ll best dressed in their fall best soon, too.

The oaks are another matter altogether. They’ll be the last to change color and stubbornly cling to their dead leaves, many of them until their new leaves sprout in the spring. Perhaps God granted them a slightly longer season because they take so long to grow and mature.

Today I feel like one of those green oak trees… slow to change, slow to grow. I’ve trusted in God most of my life. He has been working diligently to make me more Christ-like but I must confess, I haven’t always been very cooperative. Sure, I’ve grown and changed through the years. I say less, listen more, and understand God better. But I have so far to go. And progress seems painfully slow. Since my lifespan is closer to a birch’s than an oak’s, it’d be great if I could grow as fast as a birch, too!

There are some advantages to being an oak tree, though. Oaks put down deep, life-giving roots that help them stand through storms and fires and droughts. I hope I’m as sturdy as an oak, able to withstand the stuff of life. Paul exhorted the Colossians, “Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (Colossians 2:6,7)

Maybe you’re like me – a little slow to grow but with roots in the fertile soil of faith. I pray, by God’s mercy, our roots will hold. He will continue building us up in Him until our dying day… still incomplete and imperfect until we stand face to face with our Savior… and then complete only in Him. In the years ahead, may our overflowing gratitude be evidenced by more obedience, more submission, and more change “to the praise of the glory of His grace which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:6)

Choices

Today, after the fog lifts, heavy dew covers every living, and non-living thing. An orb-weavers web, woven in perfect symmetry, is be-jeweled with dewdrops, each a tiny prism glinting in the rising sun. Each pine needle threatens to shed a tiny tear. Each blade of grass is damp. Dew pools and trickles down the granary’s metal roof. It sounds like a slow rain dripping into the puddles below.

Before the big flood, this was God’s preferred method of watering the earth. It must have been quite a conundrum for Noah. He was supposed to build an ark to prepare for a flood which would result from rain, which had never happened before. By faith, he spent 100+ years building the gargantuan cargo carrier, believing God was serious about sending this mysterious thing called rain.

All the while he worked, he was ridiculed by the very people he was trying to convince to come into the ark with him. Talk about tenacity! I have a hard time sticking with a project for several weeks. And ridicule makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry. In the infamous words of George McFly, “I’m not sure I could handle that kind of rejection.” (Back to the Future) I’m glad God, the animals and humankind weren’t counting on me to save the day. The story might have ended much differently.

I think the same thing when I watch the movie Amazing Grace. William Wilburforce spent most of his adult life fighting for the abolition of slavery in Great Britain. It cost him his health, which he willingly sacrificed to fulfill his God-ordained task. He died just three days after he’d won the battle. But what if he’d grown weary and quit fighting? Or what if he’d refused to take on the battle in the first place?

What if Abraham hadn’t been willing to sacrifice Isaac? What if Joseph hadn’t been faithful through trials? What if Moses hadn’t returned to Egypt to lead the Israelites out? What if Joshua and Caleb hadn’t believed they could take the land of Canaan? What if David hadn’t taken on Goliath? What if Joseph had decided against taking Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety? What if Jesus hadn’t died on the cross?

In each plot climax, the protagonist had a choice to make. Will I obey God or will I disobey? As the storyline unfolds, it’s clear their obedience brought God’s favor not only on them, but on those near them, and sometimes on generations to come. Had any of them chosen disobedience, the story would read like a Shakespearean tragedy.

Joshua issued a challenge to the Israelite people as they entered Canaan. “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

The challenge is ours, as well. If we chose to serve the Lord, it’s not long before we realize it isn’t always an easy choice. Sometimes the tasks God assigns us seem overwhelming or impossible. We want to shrink away. But obeying and persevering are vital. Our choices may not change the course of history, but they’ll undoubtedly change the courses of our lives.

Obedience invites God’s blessings; on ourselves, our households, and even future generations. Disobedience can inadvertently turn an action adventure into a tragedy. But even then God shows His mercy. He rewrites our tragic stories with happy endings.

Sin’s Tangled Web

Today late morning sunlight seeps through a crevice in the clouds. It burns off the foggy residue of a cool, fall night and highlights the heavy dewdrops clinging to every surface.

In the crook of a tree limb, a spider web’s bejeweled strands sparkle. It’s alluring. But as beautiful as it is, it’s a trap. The architect is probably resting somewhere nearby, just waiting for an unwitting insect to fly by and become the evening’s entrée.

Once a bug flies into the web, it’s stuck. It will struggle for a while, thinking it can free itself from its thin, seemingly harmless bonds. But the sticky web will hold it in place until the spider returns — unless something or someone intervenes.

That’s how sin works. Satan weaves an attractive web of deceit, then settles in to watch and wait for us to get caught in sin’s trap. The father of lies makes the sinful choices we’re entertaining look so attractive. He tells us our sin de jour will bring us satisfaction, and it will – for a season. He tells us there won’t be any serious consequences, and sometimes there aren’t – for a while. He tells us it’s only a little sin, and it is – at first.

Before long, we’re tangled up in a sticky situation. We’ve become Satan’s prey. When we realize where our choices have taken us, we may struggle against them; try to break the addiction, try to avoid the pitfalls, try to deny the flesh, but the bonds that hold us are stronger than they seem. We need a deliverer.

Praise God we have one! Romans 8 makes it clear that all who repent of their sinful choices and put their faith and hope in Christ’s death and resurrection have been set free from the law of sin and death. We’ve been rescued from sin’s web by our Deliverer, our Redeemer. We may choose to run back to sin, from time to time, but we are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:7). The law of the Holy Spirit in us not only sets us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2), but makes us slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18).

Though we may fall into sin’s trap – for a season, Christ in us intervenes. God sees our struggle and empowers us to break sin’s bonds. Satan is defeated and we’re freed from the wed of sin’s deceit.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1

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