Daily Thought for May 7, 2022

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 FREEDOM IN HIM

 I APPROACH YOU WITH TENDERNESS, BECAUSE YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO ME AND I KNOW HOW FRAGILE YOU ARE. I draw you with gentle cords, with bands of Love. These Love-cords keep you connected to Me; they also help you discern the way you should go. Though My bands of Love are unbreakable, they do not curtail your freedom. These highly elastic bands allow you to go your own way for a while. However, even if they are stretched out for a long time—as you seek to live independently of Me—they retain their drawing power. Eventually, when you grow weary of worldly ways, the cords draw you gently back to Me. No matter how far you have roamed, I welcome you with unfailing Love. 

I stoop down both to nourish you and to liberate you: take the yoke from your neck. The yoke is a symbol of slavery, and you have been a slave to sin. My death on the cross for your sins provided a way to free you from this slavery. I have broken the bands of your yoke and replaced them with bands of Love. Now you can walk upright—with your head held high—rejoicing in Me, your Savior. When the Son sets you free, you are free indeed! 

“I drew them with gentle cords, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.” HOSEA 11:4 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. PSALM 143:8 

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” JOHN 8:34–36

 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.” LEVITICUS 26:13

Young, Sarah. Jesus Lives (pp. 264-265). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

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