OUR DAILY BREAD : CATCH AND RELEASE

[cimi]

November 26
Wednesday


CATCH AND
RELEASE

READ:
Romans 6:15-23
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Jesus answered them
"Most assuredly, I say
to you, whoever
commits sin is a slave
of sin." __John 8:34
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I'm a "catch and release" fisherman, which means I don't kill the trout I catch, but net and handle them gently and set them free. It's a technique that ensures "sustainability," as conservation officers like to say, and keeps trout and other target species from disappearig in heavily fished waters.

I rarely release a trout without recalling Paul's words about those who have been "taken captive" by Satan to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26), for I know that our adversary the devil does not catch and release but captures to consume and destroy.

We may think we can deliberately sin in a limited way for a short period of time and then get ourselves free. But as Jesus teaches us, "Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin" (John 8:34). Even "little" sins lead to greater and greater unrighteousness. Sin becomes the consequence of sin. We find ourselves entrapped and enslaved, and like a luckless trout, we cannot wriggle free.

Sin enslaves us. But when we yield ourselves in obedience to Christ and call upon Him for the strength to do His will, we are "released." The result is increasing righteousness (Rom 6:16).

Jesus assures us, "If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). __David Roper
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````````````````Christ broke the bonds of sin, that I```````````````
``````````````````Might know His strong eternal tie;```````````````
``````````````````This blood-bought liberty I bring````````````````
````````````To be Your bond-slave, Master-King. __F. Hess``````````
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Christ releases us from sin's slavery
into salvation's liberty.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 6:15-23**********

15 What then? Shall we sin
because we are not under
law but under grace?
Certainly not! 16 Do you not
know that to whom you
present yourselves slaves to
obey, you are that one's
slaves whom you obey,
whether of sin leading to
death, or of obedience
leading to righteousness?

17 But God be thanked that
though you were slaves of
sin, yet you obeyed from
the heart that form of
doctrine to which you were
delivered. 18 And having
been set free from sin, you
became slaves of
righteousness.

19 I speak in human terms
because of the weakness of
your flesh. For just as you
presented your members
as slaves of uncleanness,
and of lawlessness leading
to more lawlessness, so
now present your members
as slaves of righteousness
for holiness. 20 For when
you were slaves of sin,
you were free in regard to
righteousness. 21 What fruit
did you have then in the
things of which you are
now ashamed? For the end
of those things is death.

22 But now having been set
free from sin, and having
become slaves of God, you
have your fruit to holiness,
and the end, everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is
death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Grace (undeserved favor) is God's offer of forgiveness to those who
deserve judgment. In today's Bible reading, we see both the majesty
and responsibility of this grace. The majesty of grace is seen in verse
23, as Paul speaks of the free gift of eternal life. The responsibility,
however, is seen in verse 15. Having received God's gracious gift,
we are not to use that grace as an excuse for continued sin. A life of
obedience honors the gift of grace and the Giver. __Bill Crowder