Daily Devotions
1 Corinthians 6:12-20 – “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
“Live Free, or Die.” You’ve heard that saying, haven’t you? We usually hear it in the context of politics, but it works just as well in our Christian lives. Because the very first thing sin does, after sneaking in the door, is set itself up as king. And then it’s very, very hard to kick it out the door again!
It doesn’t matter much what kind of sin it is. Gluttony, illicit sex, any kind of addiction—even things like gossiping, backbiting, or speaking ill of the people God has set over you. It’s so hard to stop, isn’t it? We need someone to set us free.
Of course, it’s Jesus Himself who said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). He Himself is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He will get us out of the mess we’ve gotten ourselves into! Through His own suffering, death, and resurrection, He has set us free forever from the power of evil. Not that we have no further problems, but the end is in sight—and, in the meantime, Jesus is with us as we learn to live as free people.
But what are we supposed to do with our freedom? Live in joy and blessedness as children of God. Grow every day to resemble Jesus, our elder Brother. Reach out with God’s love and mercy to people who have never had a chance to know Him—or how deeply He loves them and wants them to be free.
WE PRAY: Dear Father, Your Son Jesus has set me free. Use me to bring others to His freedom, too. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Name one thing that tries to enslave you.
2. What makes it so hard to leave it behind?
3. Tell about a specific situation where Jesus set you free.