By For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them… (Luke 9:56).
Have you ever noticed that Satan’s agenda and God’s agenda for us are polar opposites? Jesus made this evident in John 10:10: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Contemporary Christian artist, Jeremy Camp, wrote and recorded a song titled “Dead Man Walking.” One line of the song says, “I was a blind man falling until I felt the life you’re calling me to.” The life God calls us to is not hopeless, discouraging and disappointing. Sure there will be gains and losses, ups and downs and successes and failures. However, these will not define the overall tenor of our lives. The abundant life offers more than life’s struggles can ever take away.
John 8:36 says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Freedom in Jesus is a wonderful thing. Consider the words of James: “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it- not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it- they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:25) Notice the word “blessed.” We are truly blessed to be free in Jesus.
It is important to realize that before we became Christians, our sins ruled over us. We were slaves and did not have the power to overcome our sinfulness. That changed when we gave our lives to the Lord. Romans 6:22 says, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holines, and the end everlasting life.”
Freedom in Jesus and power over sin sounds great, doesn’t it? That isn’t all! There is also the absence of condemnation. Romans 8:1 states, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Finally, the Bible tells us God is the author of peace- not confusion. That is so true! We are free. Our sins are forgiven. Sin no longer bullies us. We no longer live under the cloud of condemnation. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).We have peace that passes all understanding.
This is the life He has called us to!
Dave Snyder is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God – Cleveland, Tennessee. Before entering the ministry on a full-time basis, he was a school teacher. He also coached middle school basketball for eight years.
Dave and his wife, Sara, have two children — Craig and Karen. They also have one ten year old granddaughter — Breanna.
Dave and Sara pastored in West Virginia for thirty-six years. Sara is now retired from the banking industry, and Dave is retired from pastoring. However, Dave currently serves as prison Chaplain for the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Writing essays, articles, and devotionals is a real passion for Dave. He also enjoys playing musical instruments and singing.
by leaps and bounds 