To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever....Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

Revelation 1:5-6 and Hebrews 13:12

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever....Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Revelation 1:5-6, Hebrews 13:12

I agree with this post on DesiringGod.com that states that Holy Week is the most important week in all of history. As such, I continue with one of the recommendations from the post to prepare for Holy Week, which is to read John Piper's 50-day devotional Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. Today I read reason #29: To Free Us from the Slavery of Sin.  Here, John Piper describes, as the title of today's devotion aptly and explicitly shares, how Christ's death on the cross frees us from enslavement to sin.  Of course we must first recognize that all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and that no one can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8).  Piper opens the devotion by stating that sin "ruins us" by rightly condemning us as "guilty before God," and it "disfigure[s] the image of God we [as humans] were meant to display," leaving us "enslaved to lovelessness."  The devotion continues stating that Jesus "frees us from both miseries." The doctrine of justification addresses the first misery, then the doctrine of sanctification progressively frees us from our sin - addressing the second misery.  Piper emphasizes how one cannot simply imitate Christ and through one's own power free oneself from sin.  We must first be justified then sanctified. The sanctification process then works through the Holy Spirit as "the decisive power" that is active and working in this process - see also Romans 6:14 where Paul shares how believers are under grace, and Piper describes this grace as "secure[ing] the omnipotent power of God to destroy our lovelessness (not all at once, but progressively)."  Piper concludes the devotion by referring us to 1 Corinthians 15:10 where Paul testifies how the grace of God or the Holy Spirit worked in Him. Repent, believe in Him and experience the power of Christ to be free from the power of sin!

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of amazing grace that works in me to free from the enslavement of sin and from lovelessness.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.