"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE FREEDOM WE HAVE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST"
2nd Kings 25:21 21 Then the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.
Some explanatory thoughts/application/questions and a prayer:
You may be asking what does the title of this devotional have to do with the verse from 2nd Kings 25?
Here are some things to consider.
Enslavement to sin, is not God's plan for our lives in Christ, it's freedom from sin.
Yet, by the choice we make, we can find ourselves missing out on the freedom God has for us in Christ.
Let's consider the following thoughts below.
1. God had warned the children of Israel and Judah as to the dangers of continuing in sin.
2nd Kings 24:1 In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him.
2nd Kings 24:2 And the LORD sent against him raiding bands of Chaldeans, bands of Syrians, bands of Moabites, and bands of the people of Ammon; He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets.
You can see in the very last part of 2nd Kings 24:2 ...He sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets. that God had indeed warned His people, and eventually brought upon them what He warned them about. Their choice to disobey was the cause of this judgement.
2. Eventually God used both the Assyrians and the Babylonians to bring judgement and captivity to His own people.
This is such a sad story, but it's the truth. When the kingdom divided into the north and the south, Israel in the north, and Judah in the south, the northern kingdom was the first to fall and be taken into captivity. The southern kingdom saw this happen, yet they continued on in their own sinful ways, and eventually they also were taken into captivity.
God is faithful to His Word. Both the goodness and the severity of the Lord. He had promised them blessing if they obeyed Him, and judgement if they disobeyed. He was very, very patient with them, but again their choices brought about the consequence of enslavement.
3. Notice please what said at the end of 2nd Kings 25:21.....Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.
This is just a sad verse. God's own people being carried away captive into a foreign land. Yet how often do we hear of a fellow believer falling into sin, and their lives imploding. It's heart breaking. God has given us the truth of how to live and the blessings He will bring, or the corruption we can bring.
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
4. It's a simple but profound truth in Scripture that we can become enslaved to the sin we yield ourselves to.
Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
It's our choice. And the end of our choices is going to either be blessing or the sadness of enslavement to sin.
5. Here's the good news. We also can become enslaved to righteousness, and the freedom that Christ offers.
John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
God sent Jesus that we might know Him, ( the truth ) and in knowing Him, and abiding in Him, we would be free, free from the enslavement of sin, and guilt and ultimately the judgement of God. What a great God we serve to offer us such a wonderful and rich life by faith in His son Jesus.
Romand 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
The above verse teaches us the great value of the OT Scriptures. God gave them to us, for our own learning, that we through them might have patience and comfort. Again, how wonderful of our Lord to provide us His Holy Word.
Some questions:
1. Who truly wants to be carried away captive because of their sin?
2. Down deep in our hearts we believe the truth of God's Word don't we?
3. How important is it for us to not only believe but to put into action what we see in God's Word?
4. Do you want freedom from being enslaved, Christ promises it to you. Will you ask Him to set you free?
5. Our God is the savior. Will you pray today for any in our body who are this very day enslaved through choices they have made. Let's pray that God moves in a powerful way to bring them into the freedom He offers in Christ.
A prayer:
Father. Thank You for sending Jesus, and Jesus, thank You that You came. Holy Spirit won't You teach us more about His lovely name and person. Lord, we pray for our lives, that we might make choices that are in line with Your Word, and we pray for any part of our own lives that are enslaved by sin, that You might deliver us from it. And, we pray for our fellow believers in our church family. Lord set them free from that which enslaves them. We know of Your love, and Your grace and mercy. May they be shed abroad in our lives in Jesus name, amen.
