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PAGE TITLE: CBN Daily Devotional
ARTICLE TITLE: The Ultimate
Freedom-Giver
AUTHOR: Stacie Ruth
AUTHOR
INFORMATION: Going
through a rough time? Join Stacie Ruth’s prayer group at www.prayingpals.org. After Stacie Ruth met Jesus, her life
blossomed with true joy and purpose! Life’s blows hurt her, but Jesus heals and
strengthens her. Now an author, actress, and recording artist, she laughs at
the irony and praises God, who uses unlikely people...like herself. Discover
why she's sung/spoken for the President, been pictured in major media (The New
York Times and USA Today), written a book at age 15, and keynoted conferences
since she was a teenager. Today, she offers a new conference for those hurting
from job losses, financial troubles, depression, grief, diseases (like
Alzheimer’s), and other heartaches through her national conference, The Heart
Hospital. Her new album, Heavenly, will release nationally in July. To watch
video clips, listen to music, view and download photos for articles, and other
features, visit
DATE: N.A
Daily Devotional
The Ultimate Freedom-Giver
By
Stacie Ruth Stoelting
Guest Writer
A
tired WWII veteran looked up from his recliner and made eye contact with me.
The time had finally come to share vivid memories of the war: "I heard my
friend, only 19-years-old like me; he screamed, 'My legs are gone!' Then I
stepped on a mine. I felt it tear into me. I prayed...not so much for myself,
but for my family...my mom, my dad. I lived...but [my friend] died..."
Such sacrifice deserves our appreciation. Let's recognize that freedom isn't
free. Today, let's pause and pray for our veterans.
Freedom
from sin and death wasn't free either: Jesus paid the price for you and me.
Yes, Jesus died for us to be set free from sin. But, in order to trade our sin
for a Heavenly win, we must come to the Giver of true life: Jesus Christ.
"Just
as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life
as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]" (Matthew
20:28, AMP).
Jesus
fought our battle for freedom when He took our capital punishment on the cross.
He bled so we wouldn't. He paid what we couldn't. He conquered the enemy -
including sin and death.
On
the 4th of July, a lot of drinking occurs. But nothing drowns our sorrows
forever. We need true spiritual water. Consider this amazing Scripture combo:
"As
the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God" (Ps.
42:1).
Jesus
quenches the thirst:
"But
whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never,
be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring
of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into,
for) eternal life" (John
4:14, AMP).
Yet
we often ignore whom we should most adore: Jesus. Will you personally invite
Jesus into your heart today? Will you receive His gift of eternal life and turn
from trying to do things your way?
His
battle-scarred hands reach out to you now. His beautiful, loving heart invites
you to know true love and life in Him. Will you open your heart to His? Will
you ignore or adore Him today? Remember: Jesus alone holds the power to set you
free.
"So
if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and
unquestionably free." (John
8:36, AMP).
This
4th of July, let’s thank veterans. But let’s not forget our ultimate
freedom-giver: Jesus Christ.
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