Don’t live in bondage
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Hebrews 2:14 & 15
Many times in the old testament, God intervened in the world by using angels, prophets, judges, kings even animals and weather. However, these were mostly sent to bring messages or to get people out of trouble. I wonder why God didn’t choose to get rid of sin by one of these methods or beings. Even when God completely destroyed everything in the world except one family and the animals with water, sin’s dominion was not removed. It was necessary for God Himself to come into the world as a person to take care of the sin problem because sin entered into the world through a man. That is why a man’s blood had to be given to satisfy the requirement that God had already established to eliminate sin.
Now we know that sin was not eliminated in the world. Obviously, sin is still here and running rampant. But, when a person enters into the blood covenant with God through the blood of Jesus, they are no longer subject to the required payment and penalty for sin. We have been set free and released from the hold that sin once had over our lives.
Today’s scripture says that Jesus destroyed the one (devil) who once had the power of death. That means, Satan no longer has power, he has been defeated. However, he still pretends that he does have power and is always trying to get it back through the same way he got it, through people. It is up to each individual to stop following him back into bondage.
This is the message that God has been trying to get to us since the beginning of time. If we look at the examples of those who have gone before us, we can clearly see that living a sinful life leads to bondage and a deliverer has always been required to get us out. God’s people were in slavery to the Egyptians, then He sent Moses to lead them out. They were trapped in the wilderness, then Joshua led them out. Over and over again, God’s people found themselves oppressed and needing a “savior” to get them out. Finally, He came down to take care of this problem once and for all and became the flesh and blood Savior that would allow people to individually get free from sin’s grip.
In Christ Jesus, we no longer need to be afraid of death or satisfying the requirement for our sin. That has already been done by our Savior, Jesus. Now He wants to lead each one of us into His promised land to live a life of peace, contentment and enjoyment by lining up with the kingdom of God’s ways.
Today I want to encourage you to enter into His rest. Don’t be carried away with all the bad news of the world. The world is still a sinful place and fear has a stronger hold than ever, but we are not subject to the bondage/hold of that fearful way. We have a Savior and He wants us to be free and has made the way for us to live in that freedom. Press into Him and receive His peace right in the middle of the turmoil of today. By focusing on His love and His Word, you can purge out the fear of death in your own life personally. Trust Him to get you through to the missions He has planned for you each day and don’t be afraid of failing. He has a path right through the middle of the valley of death and will walk through it with you to success.
Today’s scripture reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
The Daily Dose 