Free at Last 终获自由

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Dexu Xia

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Jan 26, 2021, 2:37:53 AM1/26/21

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Free at Last

If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

Twenty long years passed before British journalist John McCarthy—a five-year hostage during Lebanon’s grueling civil war—met the man who negotiated his release. When McCarthy finally met U.N. envoy Giandomenico Picco, McCarthy simply said, “Thank you for my freedom!” His heartfelt words carried great weight because Picco had risked his own life during dangerous negotiations to secure freedom for McCarthy and others.

We as believers can relate to such hard-won freedom. Jesus gave up His life—enduring death on a Roman cross—to secure spiritual freedom for all people, including each of us. Now as His children, we know “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free,” the apostle Paul boldly declared (Galatians 5:1).

The gospel of John also teaches of freedom in Christ, noting, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

But free in what ways? In Jesus, we experience freedom not only from sin and its hold on us but also from guilt, shame, worry, Satan’s lies, superstitions, false teaching, and eternal death. No longer hostages, we have freedom to show love to enemies, walk in kindness, live with hope, and love our neighbors. As we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, we can forgive as we’ve been forgiven.

For all of this, let’s thank God today. Then let’s love so others will know the power of His freedom too.

What spiritual chains still hold you hostage? As you release those chains to God, what words can you use to thank Him for setting you free?

Dear liberating God, thank You for my freedom—for setting me free from spiritual death and releasing me to love.

终获自由

天父的儿子若叫你们自由，你们就真自由了。—约翰福音8章36节

英国记者约翰 · 麦卡锡（John McCarthy）曾在残酷的黎巴嫩内战中被掳为人质达5年之久。他在获得自由的20年后，才有机会与那位使他获救的谈判专家会面。当他终于见到联合国特使皮科（Giandomenico Picco）时，他只是说：“谢谢你让我重获自由！”一句简单的话，却道尽千言万语。因皮科曾冒着生命危险，在危机四伏的谈判中，为麦卡锡和其他人质争取重获自由的机会。

作为基督徒，我们可以理解这种难能可贵的自由。耶稣在十字架上牺牲生命，好让你我及所有人都能得到真正的自由。如今，身为上帝的儿女，我们能明白使徒保罗大胆的宣告：“基督释放了我们，叫我们得以自由”（加拉太书5章1节）。

约翰福音也提到在基督里的自由：“天父的儿子若叫你们自由，你们就真自由了。”（约翰福音8章36节）

但这是怎样的自由呢？在耶稣里，我们能经历自由且脱离了罪和罪的辖制，并能脱离罪咎、羞耻、忧虑、撒但的谎言、各种迷信、错误的教导和永远的死亡。我们不再是罪恶的俘虏，能自由地以恩慈待人、活出盼望、爱邻舍也能爱仇敌。当我们顺从圣灵的引导时，就能饶恕人，因我们已被饶恕。

今天，让我们为这一切感谢上帝，并因着爱，让众人看见上帝那使人得自由的大能！

你可以将哪些束缚心灵的枷锁交给上帝？
当上帝使你得自由，你要对祂说些什么来表达感谢呢？