November 25

Morning

The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, — Luke 4:18 BSB

None but Jesus can free the captives. True liberty comes from Him alone.

It is a liberty that is rightfully given because the Son, as Heir of all things, has the authority to make people free. The saints honor the justice of God, which now secures their salvation.

It is a liberty that was dearly purchased. Christ declares it with His power, but He bought it with His blood. He sets you free, but only by bearing the weight of your chains. You go free because He took your burden upon Himself. You are released because He suffered in your place.

Though this freedom was purchased at a great cost, Jesus gives it freely. He asks nothing of us to prepare for this liberty. He finds us in our state of despair, clothed in sackcloth and ashes, and bids us wear the beautiful garments of freedom. He saves us just as we are, and without any help or merit from us.

When Jesus sets us free, that liberty is permanent. No chains can bind us again. Let the Master say to me, “Captive, I have delivered you!” and it is accomplished forever. Satan may plot to enslave us, but if the Lord is with us, whom shall we fear? The world, with all its temptations, may try to entrap us, but the One who is with us is greater than all who stand against us. The schemes of our deceitful hearts may trouble us, but the One who began the good work in us will carry it through to completion. The enemies of God may gather against us, but if God has acquitted us, who can condemn?

The soul set free by Christ is as untouchable as an eagle soaring to its rocky nest, far above the clouds. If we are no longer under the law and its curse, let our freedom be shown in our service to God, full of gratitude and joy. “I am Your servant, the child of Your handmaid—You have loosed my bonds.” “Lord, what would You have me do?”

Evening

For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” — Rom 9:15 BSB

In these words, the Lord plainly claims the right to give or withhold His saving mercy according to His sovereign will. Just as a king holds the power of life and death, so the Judge of all the earth has the right to either spare or condemn the guilty as He sees fit.

By their sins, humans have forfeited any claim on God’s mercy; they deserve punishment. If all people were to perish for their sins, none could rightly complain. If the Lord chooses to save some, He may do so if justice is not compromised. But if He decides to leave others to the punishment they deserve, no one has the right to challenge His decision. Foolish are those who argue against God’s sovereign grace—such debates are nothing more than the rebellion of proud human hearts against the authority of the Almighty.

When we see our own desperate condition and recognize the justice of God’s judgment against sin, we stop questioning whether God must save us. We no longer grumble if He chooses to save others instead, as if He were doing us an injustice. Instead, we realize that if He shows us any mercy at all, it is an act of pure grace, and we will forever bless His name for it.

How can those who are chosen by divine election fully express their gratitude for God’s grace? They have no grounds for boasting, for His sovereign choice leaves no room for pride. God’s will alone is exalted, and the idea of human merit is utterly cast down. There is no doctrine in Scripture more humbling than election. Yet none stirs up more gratitude and holiness in those who understand it. Believers should not fear it but rather rejoice and worship because of it!