11/4/25 Devotional: A Wretch set Free!
Do you recall Romans 7:24?
“O wretched man that I am: who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
The Roman custom for a murderers’ punishment was to chain the dead body to the murderer until both were dead.
What a horrific visual and experience that was for both the observer and the offender!
But did you connect 2 Corinthians 4: 10-12 with the above passage?
“…always carrying in the body the death of JESUS, so that the life of JESUS may also be manifested in our bodies.
11 For we who live are always being given over to death for JESUS’ sake, so that the life of JESUS also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.”
We know that Paul’s life of a CHRISTian witness (who once preached only the law as a seasoned Pharisee) was one of constant persecution.
But the grace of our glorious GOD and KING is personalized for us individually in verse 10 specifically!
How so? Bluntly we are the murderers whose sins CHRIST took upon HIMSELF!
HE took the body of Death that was to be chained to us and willingly went to the Cross in our places!
But the joy is exponentially ours without our merit or any good that we do…
NOR CAN DO!
We are given this life to preach the Good News that HIS death gave us Eternal Life, yes?
So knowing the price paid for you,
Knowing that debt none could ever paid has BEEN paid,
Deeply aware that our wretchedness has been exchanged for purity and wholeness though we deserve and have all earned Death…
What manner of servant should we then be for our LORD JESUS CHRIST?
Answer! A humble and contrite one who zealously shares the WORD without compromise…
…driven by the daily knowledge of how great HIS gift is which was wholly delivered on Calvary!
So serve HIM relentlessly, bending both heart and knee daily…
…and carry the LORD’s message in your body for others to be set free!
Just like you!
Amen and amen!
2CJC 