Reading: Psalm 20:1-9
Like David, we will face distress and trials in life. But David recognizes the saving grace and freedom that can only come from God, and he shares it in this reading. David trusts that when he cries out for help in the midst of chaos and imprisonment by life, God will come and pour out blessings upon him. We read that we cannot gain such blessing from anything else, but only through God. He will grant us victory and rejoice with us when we are saved from the hardship of life. God can grant us such freedom and success that only comes from His wonderful grace and mercy.
What do you need to be rescued from today?
How does this Psalm give you the same hope that David has through his time of hardship?
Reading: Matthew 26:69-27:10
To be a follower of Jesus definitely doesn't mean you have to be perfect. We read here about two examples of imperfect people, and followers of Jesus, who mess up, but have two very different ways of taking it.
Peter denies Jesus three times before the rooster crows, and immediately he remembers what Jesus said about him doing just this. He weeps bitterly and goes to repent and receive forgiveness. Jesus was led to the cross and died for us so that we may be set free from our sins. We can come to Him with our mistakes, failures, addictions, pasts and receive the gift of freedom from those things. He longs for us to come to Him and be made clean. We will read later on how Peter becomes one of the greatest leaders of the church movement. Even though he messed up here, he goes on to do great things for God.
Judas on the other hand, realizes his mistake and has a very different reaction. Instead of striving for freedom and redemption from it, he goes and hangs himself. Though many may think this is what should have happened to Judas, Jesus forgives even the darkest of sins and wants to give us freedom no matter what. Judas doesn't take this route, and ends his own life, fearing guilt and shame, which we can be granted freedom from as well.
Go to Jesus with your mistakes, failures, addictions, pasts, etc. He wants you to come to Him and feel the gift of freedom and the feel the weight come off your shoulders through Him.
What is something you need to take to Jesus to receive freedom and redemption?
How do you usually react to sin in your life? Do you confront it and grow from it? Or do you run in guilt and shame?
Reading: Exodus 9:1-10:29
Like Pharaoh, we too can be stubborn about being set free. We see how Pharaoh's pride keeps him suffering with plague after plague. He continues to beg for mercy, but after the fact, refuses to give into what God wants in letting the people go so they may go worship the Lord. We might be blind to what is causing our suffering, as we continue to hold on to our pride and status, without letting God in to show us the easy way to get through life. We have the freedom to worship the Lord, yet we don't do it. We can speak His Name, yet we are too timid. The Lord may ask us to live one way, but we stick to our own ways. Freedom can only come to our lives if we allow God to work in our lives. Don't let your heart be hard towards God, but be open to His will and ways.
What part of your life have you hardened your heart to God?
How does this cause you to suffer in a way?
Freedom is granted to us through Christ. All we need to do is go to Him and accept it. When we face trials as David did, we need to realize the power God has to rescue us from those dark times, trusting in only Him to deliver us. We will mess up and sin, yet we can run to Him for redemption and freedom from the guilt, shame, sin, addiction, mistakes, our pasts, etc. Or we can hold on to our pride and take matters into our own hands as Judas did. Give up those things you cling to to receive full freedom in Christ.
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