Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Revelation for Liberation


Dr. Ron Jacob
Long Island MTC, NY
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Liberation: the act of setting someone free from imprisonment, slavery, or oppression; release.

In the passage, John mentions a scroll which cannot be opened by anyone and how that causes him to weep bitterly. Have you ever seen a grown adult man "weep bitterly"? I do not simply mean shedding a tear or his eyes welling up. I mean severe gut wrenching cries. If so, you know those are sincere tears brought about due to an extremely painful event. This is how John described his experience when he realized there was no one in heaven or earth worthy to open the scroll. Imagine the gut wrenching tears we would have shed if Christ did not liberate us. 

Liberation is only relevant when we realize and accept our imprisonment to sin and our need for freedom. For us, some sins truly feel like slavery...as if we do not have the capacity to willingly rid ourselves of it. Our struggle may also be the inability to acknowledge sins which exist in our hearts. Denial of our chains will never allow for liberation. The difficulty at times is accepting that we are slaves to one thing or another and we need freedom from that bondage. In that moment of clarity we realize the true filth and evil that exists within us and we too might react as John and "weep bitterly." 

In the passage, an elder reveals a slaughtered lamb who is referred to as the Lion of Judah. Only He is worthy to open the scroll because His blood was given as a ransom to God on behalf of all the people.

If you have shed tears over the sin which may engulf you, know with confidence that there was an innocent lamb who shed His blood to have your chains removed in order to liberate you from your bondage. 

Is there a greater revelation than the understanding that Christ’s blood paid the ultimate price for our freedom?


PRAYER


Dear Lord, thank you for conquering death and giving us freedom from our sins. Amen. 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me 
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love, amazing grace
- Chris Tomlin

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