asbc seek devotionals 2025 2 - Flipbook - Page 54
DEVOTIONAL JOURNAL | ALFRED STREET BAPTIST CHURCH
Day 25: Liberation:
Sweet Freedom
REV. DR. MARCIA NORFLEET
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me;To preach good tidings to the
poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the
prison to those who are bound.”
– Isaiah 61:1 NKJV
It is said, “if you really love something, set it free.” Freedom can look differently than one
thinks.Yes, boundaries are necessary so that one does not harm others or the self, but
boundaries are different from captivity, and having a bond is different from being bound. Paul
self-identifies as a prisoner of Jesus Christ. He gave up his life of sin to live for Christ and love
God’s people. Sweet freedom is being able to make a choice as well as the ability to surrender.
Isaiah 61 was written to encourage Israel, who came out of exile, but were still
brokenhearted by their previous experience or bondage. Even though the physical prison
bars are open, the mind and spirit must adjust to the new state of being. It takes time
to break the tethers of institutionalization. It is an active choice to redirect thinking,
traditions, and trajectories daily.
It is no coincidence that Jesus chose this passage for his first preaching engagement in the
temple (Luke 4). This passage laid the foundation for His ministry but also announced
to all that the Messiah had arrived. He will encourage the poor and brokenhearted and
set the captives free. Jesus made the choice to live out His ministry in love. He made the
choice to surrender to the work of the cross and give sweet freedom from sin to the
world. THAT IS LOVE.
We have a choice to accept His gift of love and redirect our thinking, traditions, and
trajectories towards the love of God and away from comfortable tethers of sin. Freedom is
sweet, but we have a choice to make: live free or choose to live in captivity.
JOURNAL
REFLECTIONS
How will you change your trajectory today?
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PRAYER
Lord, we are grateful for your choice to love us in spite of
us. Amen.
