CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Sunday, October 25th, 2015
Jeremiah 48:1-49:22
2 Timothy 4:1-22
Psalm 95:1-96:13
Proverbs 26:9-12
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1z9sla4
Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
For because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken. – Jer 48:7
Trusting in your works and your treasures will result in captivity. But trusting in God results in true freedom. If you trust in your performance, you will be taken hostage. If you lean on riches and material wealth instead of your Father in heaven, you will be trapped. But if you refuse to trust anyone but God, you will be set free.
God’s commandments set us free. God’s instruction is not meant to bind us and restrict our behavior. God is not trying to stamp out our ability to have fun. God’s word explains our design, so that we can go out and live according to that design: so that we can do the things we were created to do!
For example: If I owned a sailboat, it would do no good to try and drive it down Broadway. Would it be my right, since I own it? Of course. But sailboats are not designed for land; they are designed for water. If I drive the boat on land, I will destroy it. But when I put that boat in the water, I honor its’ design. I prevent unnecessary damage, and use it for its original intended purpose. Freedom only occurs when that boat is set loose on the open sea.
So many of us do damaging things that run contrary to our design in the name of personal freedom. After all, we own our bodies! Our lives are ours to live! But when we live contrary to God’s design, we find ourselves in captivity. We are unknowingly restricted because we are not using our lives for their original intended purpose.
You and I were created to worship God: with everything we think, say, and do. True freedom only occurs when we worship Him with all our hearts.
Prayer:
Father, help me to live according to my design. I was created to worship You! I was designed to spend eternity in Your presence! Help me to live out my destiny with joy!
© Michael D. White, 2015. All rights reserved.