The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him. He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”Luke 4:18-21
Tomorrow, our nation will pause to observe Juneteenth – the 161st anniversary of freedom being heralded in Galveston Bay, Texas, as the Emancipation Proclamation was read and over 200,000 men, women, and children were liberated from the chains of slavery to walk in freedom!
While freedom had been legally secured two years prior in 1863, the good news had not yet reached Galveston Bay – after the Civil War, Americans traveled throughout the re-united, United States of America proclaiming the good news of emancipation. The people still being held in bondage in Galveston Bay were the last to learn of their emancipation on June 19, 1865, and since then, Juneteenth has become a celebration of all Americans obtaining the freedom and liberty we cherish and safeguard. This came as an answer to generations of prayer, as God propelled the work of emancipation through the hearts of leaders and the halls of government.
This is our mission as Christians: we are to proclaim spiritual freedom through faith in Christ, inviting others to believe in Him and walk in salvation, liberated from the spiritual bondage of sin and death.
Just as the Emancipation Proclamation had been in place for two years, the work of our salvation has already been completed by Christ’s death on the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension! When we share the Gospel – not ‘if’ – we are sharing good news that has already been made complete; we are inviting others to walk in the finished work of Christ.
Through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are no longer bound to walk in the flesh and live in sin!
Let’s reflect: Have we been faithful to the Great Commission, to proclaim this freedom?
We can pray and ask God to show us the areas and opportunities He has given us to proclaim the hope of the Gospel, and to give us boldness to follow through when He provides the opportunity!
As we ponder the freedom we live in as believers, we can also ask God to search us, and reveal to us where we might be running back into the bondage of sin and living according to the desires of our flesh.
Do we feel bound to live out of fear, serve our own pride, or pursue ‘being right’ over being righteous? Phrases like “That’s just the way I am!” or “This is how things have always been, so there is no reason to change!” can be a slippery slope to justifying the bondage of sin and being complacent in lifestyles built on foundations of sin. Through freedom in Christ, God invites us to submit to Him and participate in the internal work of the Holy Spirit renewing our minds, hearts, and attitudes, while also participating in the external work of living out the fruit of the Spirit in our speech, conduct, and choices.
What a gift to have freedom in Christ! We have the freedom to choose faithfulness over fear, the freedom to serve Christ alone, and to walk in righteousness according to the unchanging truths of Scripture.
On Sunday, our nation will observe Father’s Day. What a loving Heavenly Father we have in the Lord! Next week, we look forward to unpacking the blessing of Father’s Day and the spiritual aspect of glorifying our Heavenly Father on this holiday, and every day!
Pray With Me!
Jesus, You are the fulfillment of the Scripture; while on Earth You preached good news to the poor, proclaimed freedom to captives, gave sight to the blind, set free the oppressed, and proclaimed the Lord’s favor! Now, I seek to go and do likewise, following Your example in everything, abiding in You and Your will.
Thank You for setting me free from the bondage of sin and giving me eternal life in You. Teach me to always deny the desires of my flesh and instead to walk in the Spirit, being renewed in my heart and mind, as I walk in Your freedom and the fruitful life that I have in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Peace and blessings,
Amy Parks
Communications Director
