Living Free - March 2, 2016
Today's Scripture
"For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." - 1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT. Suggested reading 1 Peter 1:17-23
Thoughts for Today
There are no perfectly functional families because there are no perfect people. All of us suffer some dysfunction, and that is why recognizing destructive patterns in relationships is important.
One person struggling with a life-controlling problem can have a domino effect on the entire family—both now and in the future. We tend to carry hand-me-downs into our adult life and begin to build the same dysfunctional patterns we experienced as a child into our marriage and other relationships.
Consider this …
Is your life heavily influenced by hand-me-downs? Do you sometimes feel as though there is no way out? No way to be free of those negative influences?
Good news! Christ offers release from enslaving hand-me-downs. This comes with "… not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." Christ provided the payment of this release with his precious blood. Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36 NIV
You have a choice. You can continue dragging the hand-me-downs along … or you can ask Jesus to set you free. You have been influenced by these negatives for a long time, and the road to freedom may require a process. But remember, Jesus has paid the price for your freedom, and he will be at your side as you take the journey away from enslaving hand-me-downs and into a life of freedom in him.
Father, I know that these negative things from my childhood are affecting my relationships today. And I know they are preventing me from being all you have designed me to be. Thank you that Jesus paid the price for my freedom. Please set me free. In Jesus' name...
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