Freedom that Comes from the Servant
“You will open the eyes of the blind.
You will free the captives from prison,
releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.”
In Isaiah, the Servant of God will open blind eyes, free the captives, and release the prisoners. These tasks were part of his work of bringing God’s salvation and justice to Israel and to the nations.
Thus when Jesus went about healing the sick and setting free those who had been in bondage to demons, he fulfilled the mission of the Servant of God. His miracles were not simply acts of godly compassion, but also signs pointing to his divine mission. By dying on the cross, Jesus broke the power of sin, thus setting us free from the ultimate prison . . . death itself.
As ones who have but our trust in Jesus, the Servant of God, we begin to experience the freedom he gives even in this life, though the fullness of our freedom is reserved for the life to come. Nevertheless, we can be set free from that which binds us: from shame, from addictions, from anger, from doubt, from despair. Through Jesus the Servant we begin to live in the freedom and joy of God’s salvation.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How have you experienced the freedom of Christ in your life? Where do you need to know more of his freedom today?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Servant of God, how I thank you for the freedom you offer. Thank you for giving up your life so that I might be set free from all that binds me, most of all from sin and death.
Help me, dear Lord, to live in that freedom today. Where sin has dug its claws into my soul, set me free. When I am tempted to turn away from you, may I say no to temptation. Where I am weakened by spiritual or emotional or relational bondage, break these chains, so that I might serve you with freedom, joy, and power.
All praise be to you, Lord Jesus, for setting me free to follow you:
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.*
Amen.
Daily Reflections from The High Calling.org
This devotional comes from The High Calling of Our Daily Work (www.thehighcalling.org). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace.
*Verse from “And Can It Be the I Should Gain?” by Charles Wesley, 1738
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