Celebrating Freedom

I pray that you start every day with God. I chose to read daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today's devotion is titled "Frolicking in Freedom." Lisa M. Samra wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from Malachi 4:1–3. The key verse is, "You will go out and frolic like well-fed calves." Malachi 4:2. My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ; before I write, I first pray to God to guide my words to serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries to inspire comments and witnessing.

Background:

The prophet encouraged the Israelites to follow God when so many, including the religious leaders, disregarded God and His standards for a faithful living (Malachi 1:12–14; 3:5–9). Malachi called the people to live faithfully because of a coming time when God would make the final distinction between the two groups. Malachi used the unexpected imagery of a frolicking calf to describe the unspeakable joy that the faithful group will experience when "the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays" (Malachi 4:2).

My Comments to You:

I experienced freedom in Jesus when I turned my life over to Jesus. The image that helped me to visualize joy was the lifting of huge weights from my shoulders.

Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment, bringing the good news that true freedom is available to all people (Luke 4:16–21). One day, in God's, renewed and restored creation, we will experience freedom. What indescribable joy it will be celebrating freedom there!

Reflect:

How have you experienced freedom in Jesus? What other images help you to visualize joy?

My Prayer for Us:

Jesus, help us to live joyfully as we remember the freedom only You provide.

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/09/23) Frolicking in Freedom, Lisa M. Samra, retrieved from www.odb.org 23/09/2021 Frolicking in Freedom.