Hold Your Head High

Chuckle: "All my babies were born out in a little ole town in west Texas . . . at the Nolan Creek Clinic & Grill.  It’s hard to have confidence in a doctor who’s got weenies in his sterilizer!  --Lou Brown

Quote: "Jesus Christ is the key which unlocks the door of the prison cell of our own making and sets us free to live in the wide world of God's love and purpose." --Kenneth Pillar

"I have set you free; now walk with your heads held high" (Leviticus 26:13 CEV). "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36 NIV).

Have you taken a moment, recently, to reflect anew on the glorious truth that, as a born again child of God, you have been set free from the bondage of sin, anxiety, fear, and guilt? You are no longer a captive of the things of this world and you can rejoice because of what God has done for you through Christ.

In our passage, God wants all His people to live like we have been set free and to hold our heads up high, not in arrogance or smugness but with confidence and rejoicing. He wants us to be filled with joy and thanksgiving and never allow anything to diminish this joy.

Just think what it must be like for a slave laborer to be set free. Our passage reminds us that God brought the children of Israel out of centuries of slavery and instead gave them freedom and dignity. We, too, are set free when we accept through faith Christ's ultimate sacrificial gift that redeems us from the slavery of sin.

We can now walk with confidence and dignity because not only has God forgiven us of our sins, but has completely forgotten that we were ever in the bondage of sin. "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more" (Isaiah 23:25 NIV).

God sets us free because He loves us, yes, but He has another purpose. He wants us to use this freedom for His glory and to inspire the highest level of righteousness within us. He wants us to grow more like Jesus each day as His Word teaches us and His Holy Spirit guides us, convicts us, and strengthens us.

God knows that the greatest security and happiness His people can enjoy comes from our living in close fellowship with Him. With an omnipotent God who has our best interests at heart, we can face even the most discouraging situations with confidence, joy, and hope. We can walk with our heads held high. PRAISE!

Love, Jerry & Dotse