Daily Devotional
Knowing Jesus is the Key to Freedom
“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
2 Peter 1:3
August 23, 2023
Ponder This
Have you ever seen an elephant at the circus? That elephant will generally have an iron ring around one of his rear legs. That iron ring will have a chain that is fastened to a stake. That stake will be driven into the ground. That elephant will be there, rocking back and forth. Now here is the interesting thing. That stake is shallowly put in the ground. That elephant could pull it out at any time. But he never tries because he thinks he cannot. When he was a baby elephant, they trained him by putting a stake in the ground very deep and putting that chain around his leg, and he pulled and could not get free. And now as a grown elephant, he has been convinced that he cannot pull that stake from the ground, and he never tries.
There are some who have been trained by the devil in the same way. You don’t understand the power you have. And Satan’s got you chained by some little insignificant thing when God wants to set you free and make you what you ought to be. Freedom comes through the knowledge of Jesus. Jesus died for you, and grace comes through the knowledge of Jesus. The peace all of us need—the peace of God, peace with God, and peace with one another—and the power all of us need, come through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
- What does it look like to live in bondage to something?
- What has Jesus set you free from? Where are you still living in bondage unnecessarily?
Practice This
Share with another person what you have been set free from through Jesus.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
