Daily Devotional for Wednesday, January 29

The Work of Christ Will Free Us Complete

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision,but faith which worketh by love;’ Galatians 5:6.

Free does not always mean free. A favorite day-trip destination for our family is the Louisiana Board Walk in Bossier City, Louisiana. There you find a diversity of shops, outlets and restaurants all within sight of the historic Red River. A large sign on the side of a popular restaurant proclaims, “Free Shrimp Tomorrow!” I remember the first time I saw that sign and thought, “Wow! What a great offer. I’m coming back tomorrow.” And then I realized that if I came back tomorrow the sign will still say “Free Shrimp Tomorrow” and tomorrow will not have arrived. Tomorrow would never arrive, and there would never be any free shrimp.

Free offers seem to be everywhere you look or click; yet, if you read or click far enough, listenlong enough, you find there is acatch. The promise of something free is like the bait used by the angler. The fish is enticed by the bait, unaware that the pain and danger of the hook is hidden inside. Once the bait is taken, the hook is set, and the catch is made. That is why they call them lures.

In the world of faith and the gospel, our enemy Satan employs the same tactic to lure unsuspecting souls. The apostle Peter warned that offers of freedom were made by Satan’s deceivers who seek to gain control of lives and eternities, “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:19).

Paul contended with the Galatians that true freedom was found only in the gospel of grace. The Pharisees were promising freedom that was not theirs to give. Jesus, who alone paid in full the price required by the Law, offers you no-strings-attached freedom that really is free.

POINT TO PONDER

Accept Jesus’ offer of the gift of life. It is free. No catch.

John Nations