April 15th 2020

A few days ago, in one of those public information films reinforcing the need to stay at home through the Easter period that were screened during the interval between programmes, my attention was captured by the words of one elderly man who said with a big grin on his face..... “but my mind is free.” Though he said it without any thought of the Christian faith or the resurrection of Jesus it seemed strangely appropriate given the time of year for that is exactly what Jesus death and resurrection signifies for the sinner, freedom!

Once we were slaves to sin, locked down under its power and even our minds were captive to it, but Easter, has changed all that, now we don’t have to live under sin’s dominion or bear it’s penalty, we are free and that liberty touches every part of our being bringing new life now and hope in eternity. Here’s how Paul described it writing to Christians in the city of Rome.

Romans 6:3-8
“Don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him”.
 
Most, if not all the actions that are sinful in our lives begin in the mind; minds controlled by sin and that fact is revealed as we dwell on an impure thought and take pleasure in it, or nurse our anger against someone and plan how to get even. Sin’s dominion is complete until Jesus breaks its grip and frees us. What difference does that make? Well here’s how Paul answers the question.

Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
​
Liberty in Christ means that our minds also are free.
 
PRAYER. 
Lord enable me to see today all the ways in which I have allow sin to rule my mind and heart, enable me to repent from that sinful mindset and grant your Holy Spirit to renew my mind, transform my words and modify my deeds until Jesus is seen in me. I ask this in the Saviour’s lovely name. AMEN
 
LISTEN :-   
IN CHRIST ALONE      

---