FREEDOM’S SAFEST PLACE!

 

Thursday, July 2, 2026

 

FREEDOM’S SAFEST PLACE!

 

Acts 22:27-28

27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

 

          Paul was about to be whipped by a Roman guard when he mentioned that he, himself, was also a Roman. It meant something! It meant that he had rights and immunity of a Roman citizen. He had freedom! It kept him safe!

 

          The word “freedom” in verse 28 is the Greek politeia preceded by the definite article ho. You will probably notice that it forms the basis of our word “politics.”

 

          The captain said that his freedom was purchased at a great cost, but Paul said that he was “free born.” The original literally means “countryman.”

 

          Being born again places us in the family of God. We are adopted and given rights and privileges the unsaved do not have. It was purchased for us at a great price.

 

Eph 2:18-19

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the [very] household of God.

 

Dear Father, my safest place is in YOU. Thank you for the great sum spent at Calvary so that I might be free born. AMEN

 

REPENTANCE!

 

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

 

REPENTANCE!

 

Ps 51:1-3

51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 

          Merriam-Webster says that “repentance” is an intransitive verb that means “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.” That’s pretty good from a non-theological source.

 

          Repentance has assumed a cultural transformation. Today repentance often means one of two things. [1] “Lord, I’m sorry that I got caught. I’ll be more careful in the future.” [2] “Lord, I feel guilty about this and will work harder so I can relieve myself of this guilty feeling.”

 

          Repentance denies certain natural tendencies and desires. Paul acknowledged the struggle of the two natures in Romans chapter 7. It is not easy to truly repent.

 

          Repentance means “to change your mind and amend your actions.” It requires one to agree with God regarding sin and to follow God in a new pattern of behavior.

 

 Jer 18:11

…return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

 

Dear Lord, every day is a struggle to agree with you regarding sin and to follow you in my behavior. Please give me your Holy Spirit for guidance and your grace for cleansing. AMEN

 

RECONCILIATION!

 

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

 

RECONCILIATION!

 

Col 1:19-22

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

 

          The etymology of the word “reconcile” is from the late Middle English: from Old French reconcilier or Latin reconciliare, from Latin re- ‘back’ (also expressing intensive force) + conciliare ‘bring together.’

 

          Legally, in human relationships, reconciliation is seldom possible unless restitution has been made. If something has been stolen it should be paid back. Even so there must also be repentance, a promise never to do the wrong ever again, and forgiveness. Forgiveness is treating the offending party as if the offense had never happened. It is easy to see how difficult this is!

 

          When we offended God, He paid the debt himself by the death of His Son Jesus. Restitution was made, forgiveness was possible, and reconciliation then was offered to the guilty. The only thing preventing God and man from coming together is man’s refusal of God’s offer. When man refuses God’s offer, either because of a lack of faith or will, he remains in the realm of guilt and condemnation because of his choice.

 

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for making it possible for me to be brought back and brought together with you. AMEN