Jeremiah 13:11” For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the Lord; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.”
John 6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Acts 24:16 “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.”
Beloved,
God the Father always calls us into intimacy through His word, Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit. The intimacy that frees us from bondage and strongholds through perfect love. I have always wondered about John the Baptist, who lived devoid of worldly pleasures, leaving no room for strongholds and bondages under the law. Only then do I begin to understand the grace of our lord Jesus Christ, which empowers yet imperfect men to do the perfect works of God.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus uses us, while imperfect, to do great works, while the Holy Spirit continues the work of perfection; Grace takes us as we are and imparts to us the righteousness of Christ. We should not judge or boast in the works done through us, but be sober in judgment, taking no offence at men in bondage and under strongholds, instead pitying their plight; the secret to never being offended.
In Jeremiah 13, God calls Israel and Judah to intimacy, depicting the call to His girdle loincloth that guards His secret parts, which is a most intimate portrayal, but they will not listen.
Today, God calls us to an intimacy beyond our imagination in the most humble way. Let us seize it, as it breaks all bondage and strongholds; it is the central message of the Gospel of freedom in Jesus Christ.
Love is an Unbound freedom of Grace.
