When the Son Sets You Free . . .

By Rick Warren

“If the Son sets you free, you are free through and through” (John 8:36 The Message).

God cares about people in physical prisons around the world. That’s why we’ve made such an effort at Saddleback to get Celebrate Recovery—the Christ-centered recovery ministry we started—into prisons around the world. We’ve seen God do incredible work in the hearts of prisoners during the last 15 years.

God cares about prisoners, and so should we.

But when Jesus said in Luke 4:18 that he came “to proclaim liberty to the captives” (NKJV), he wasn’t just talking about physical prisons. He was talking about anything that keeps us from becoming all he wants us to be.

What are some of those prisons?

  • Addictions and Compulsions: When you say, “I feel trapped,” you’re talking about a prison in your life. Maybe you’re imprisoned to a substance, a person, an event, or pornography. You want to change, but you can’t.
  • Secrets: Whether it’s family secrets or personal secrets you can’t tell anyone about, they lock you up in self-imposed prisons. You hold them inside you.
  • Ignorance: Half of the world can’t read or write. Without proper education, they’re stuck in poverty. Even if the entire world was wired for the Internet, people would be stuck without literacy.
  • Fear:This is the big one. Fear keeps us from living up to our potential. When we’re afraid to try what we haven’t done before, we limit God and ourselves.

Jesus came to set us free from these prisons—no matter why or where we’re locked up.

Know this for sure: Jesus cares about you. He wants you to be free.

And he has incredible news for you. Jesus says, “If the Son sets you free, you are free through and through” (John 8:36 The Message).

That kind of freedom is available to you right now.

Every day of your life you’re either growing in freedom or growing in bondage. You’re never standing still. Your life is either getting more open or narrower.

Today, you’ll listen to the legalists, the perfectionists, or the conformists who want to take away your freedom. Or you’ll listen to Jesus, as he offers to make you “free through and through.”

Whose message will you listen to?

PLAY todays audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!


$50,000 Matching Grant DOUBLES your gift!

 

Too many people are running on empty — overwhelmed with worries and burdens.

That’s why we want to send you Pastor Rick’s Re-Energize Your Life interactive guide and journal to help you reconnect with God to be renewed and refreshed. It’s our thank-you for your support today.

And a $50,000 Matching Grant will DOUBLE your donation to help more people connect with Jesus — and re-energize their life!

Re-Energize Your Life will help you . . .

• Lighten your load and re-activate your passion
• Make space for what matters most
• Take 5 steps so you can be used by God

Get yours today when you support Daily Hope and your donation will be DOUBLED by the $50,000 Matching Grant!

*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.

 

This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.