Devotionals for the Heart: Grace

The Freedom of Grace
A devotional by Allison M. Wilson

Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12, Galatians 5:1, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:9, 2 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 6:1-7, 2 Peter 1:2-4, John 14:15, Galatians 5:13 (NASB)

1 Corinthians 6:12 has Paul tell us “…all things are lawful for me…” How does that work for believers? Does that mean we can do whatever we want, whenever we want? Well, yes and no.

We have been given freedom in Christ. Read Galatians 5:1. We are no longer bound to sin, and we no longer bear the consequences of it, namely, death. Read Romans 6:23. The wrath of God for sin was laid on Jesus’s shoulders. Read Romans 5:9. We have been given a free gift, nothing we earned or ever could earn on our own. With that gift, we have been given freedom. Paul telling us all things are lawful for him is correct, however, the rest of the verse is too important to leave out. It says, “…but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

Sin is slavery. We all have something, or even some things, in our lives that we are still battling to let God have victory over. I believe God did not tell us what Paul’s thorn was so that we can use our own thorn to fill in the blank. Read 2 Corinthians 12:7. It could be lying, overeating, gossip, judgement, unforgiveness, or any of things the Bible tells us to put off from our new life. We’re still living in a fleshly body that wants to win. The battle is daily for the Spirit to have control. Paul’s, “I will not be mastered by anything” speaks to that. Anything that has mastery over you is your master! Every time you let your flesh win, it proves who holds the reins in your life.

Romans 6:1-7 shows us that the old self in us DIED. It is as dead as Christ was in the grave. Now, we are ALIVE in Christ, just as He was raised to new life. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us! That power can overcome any of the thorns we face. It already DID. We have victory over our flesh. We just have to tap into the power we’ve been given.

Lots of Scriptures tell us how to be filled with the power of God to overcome. There are too many to list. One that God takes me to the most is 2 Peter 1:2-4. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) translation adds a word that others do not. I think it is a word that changes the verse. The word is “true” and the verse says, “…through the true knowledge of Him….”

I was raised with lots of knowledge of God, but I’m learning much of it was not true knowledge. It was man’s wisdom or interpretation of the Word. Such a Scripture is John 14:15. God’s not saying that you don’t love Him if you aren’t perfect in keeping His commandments. None of us is ABLE to keep the commandments. He would have to withhold His love from us all were the case. Instead, what it is saying is that we will keep His commandments BECAUSE of our love for Him, not out of obligation. That is an enormous difference from what I was taught as a child.

In Galatians 5:13, we are called to use our freedom in grace to serve one another. We cannot do that if we don’t understand the freedom we’ve really been given. There’s a song by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser called, “No Longer Slaves.” I love that song and the declarations in it. I am no longer a slave to any sin. I AM A CHILD OF GOD.

Let’s Pray: Dearest Jesus, You died to make me free from all sin and unrighteousness. You see me as a blemish free bride. Give me the true knowledge of the power that You have put inside of me through Your Spirit to overcome the flesh and its wants. Speak Your truth to my heart that I may have the victory of Your freedom. In the precious name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

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Author Bio:

A very early reader and lover of the written word, Allison M. Wilson has been writing since the age of 8 with the heart to impart stories and God's truth.

She has judged countless contests for the last 25 years, reviewed for several online publications, professionally edited, and written articles and devotionals.

Wife, mother, writer, editor, teacher, mentor, and mompreneur, God keeps her busy while living in east central Florida with her family.

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