"Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life.' "
~ Jeremiah 21:8-9 (NIV)
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free... Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
~ John 8:32,36 (NKJV)
When the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem, the people asked Jeremiah for a word of deliverance from the LORD. Jeremiah's unhappy message was that the Babylonians acted as the Lord's instrument of punishment, and deliverance could be found only by surrendering to the enemy, not remaining within the city.
The people preferred to hear a lie which said they could stay in the bondage of the besieged city and live. They disregarded the fact that to know the truth of surrender held the only way to life.
The devil no longer has power over those who belong to Christ. If we feel captive ("in bondage") to anything, we likely believe some lie of the enemy. To know the truth is to be free indeed.
Truth abounds in God's Word, and through the Holy Spirit by abiding in prayer. Freedom and life are found in surrender to Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank You for shedding the blood which bought our freedom. Thank You for daily revealing truth to us. Please reveal to us all lies of the enemy which deceive us and tell us we are yet captive. Please make us free indeed.
Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Hi Anne,
ReplyDeleteI'm so grateful for God's Word and for Jesus, who is THE Truth. I love your prayer and my hope is that God will consistantly bring me into more truth and freedom daily.
Blessings to you, my friend!
A pastor once told me that often the lies come to us with truth mixed in, so we can be more easily deceived. So the enemy tells some truth but sneaks in the lies. This helped to be more watchful and grateful for the freedom God brings.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
Wendy, the devil's tactics seem to always include as much truth as necessary to swallow the lie. A look at Genesis 3, Job 1-2, and the temptation of Jesus show consistent distortion of truth by the enemy in spiritual battle.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, thank you Anne.
ReplyDeleteI so needed this today, Anne. How'd you know that?
ReplyDeleteBilly, since I'm just working my way through Jeremiah, I trust God timed this for today. I'm blessed to know He uses me.
ReplyDeleteBless you for this post, love you.
ReplyDelete