Love that LiberatesSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to set at liberty those who are oppressed. Jesus manifested His love on the cross just to deliver you from all sufferings. He will liberate you from all bondage. In the Bible, the Lord Jesus says that He came into this world to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4:18). For that sake, God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. He was in captivity for us. Prophet Isaiah writes that He was oppressed and afflicted for us all the time (Isaiah 53:7,8).
As a young lawyer, when Abraham Lincoln was walking down a street, he saw a young African girl being put up for sale as a slave as slave-trade was prevalent those days. The tears of the little girl moved the heart of Lincoln. Immediately, he paid a huge amount for her and took her home. After reaching home, he told her, "Daughter, I set you free; you can go wherever you want, because I have bought you." She was amazed and fell at his feet at once and said, "Sir, if I am free, you should allow me to serve you all through your life. I would love to be your slave out of love." Lincoln felt very happy. All through his life, Lincoln strove hard to abolish slavery in America. So, he was all the time threatened for his life by the slave traders.
In the same way, the Lord Jesus lived in this world. He liberated people from slavery to sin, sickness and hopelessness. The Scribes and the Pharisees brought to Jesus a sinful woman who was supposed to be stoned to death according to law. Jesus looked at her and said, "I do not condemn you; go and sin no more" (John 8:11). He told the woman who had an issue of blood twelve years, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction" (Mark 5:34). She was healed immediately. When a certain nobleman came to the Lord Jesus and shed tears for his son. He said, "Go your way; your son lives" (John 4:50). Jesus said to the man who had an infirmity thirty-eight years, lying near the Bethesda pool, "Rise take up your bed and walk" (John 5:8). Thus, he was freed from both sickness and solitude as he went back to his home, healed.
When the Lord Jesus performed these miracles, He was quite happy. On the other hand, the people who were jealous of Him gnashed their teeth when they saw the healed man walking home with his bed. Instead of praising the Lord, they were waiting for an opportune moment to kill Him.
Look at the disciples of Jesus. At the time of distress, they forsook Him and fled. Every day, whenever Jesus looked at the face of Judas, fear of death would grip Him (John 13:2,21). He knew very well that one day Judas would betray Him and hand Him over to death. And He lived in this world amidst people who sought His life.
Friend, are you facing such challenges in your life? Have the doctors given up hopes on your survival? Do you lament saying, "I am unmarried"; "I am childless"; "I am jobless"; or "I have failed in the exam"? Have you lost all hope? Jesus manifested His love on the cross just to deliver you from all such sufferings. He will never leave you in your difficult times. He will change your life for the better.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
You came into this world to liberate me from sin, sickness and hopelessness. You are my Saviour. Lord, I welcome You into my life. Change it from today. Help me to receive blessings from You and not oppose Your will. Help me to live in accordance to Your commandments. I give all glory to Your mighty name that is greater than all powers and dominions of this world.
Amen. |