A prayer for freedom from condemnation by Meg Buker, read by Leah Martin.

There is, therefore, now, no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ, Romans 8

1.

Wow, my oldest daughter mused over her lunch.

This peanut butter and jelly sandwich is really good.

From the time the child could chew, she's been a picky eater.

Once her teeth grew in, she ate an apple for lunch every single day.

But when it came time for kindergarten, I flipped through parenting magazines in search

of a sandwich she would settle in on alongside her daily apple.

She compromised on a smourwitch, Graham cracker's marshmallow, and hazelnut spread.

Seven years later, she discovered the simple joy of PB&J in her own time.

And I was left convicted.

We have a tendency to default to condemnation or criticism, even though Paul reminds us

in today's verse, Romans 8 1, that we are free in Christ.

The Moody Bible commentary explains, condemnation here especially focuses upon the believers'

freedom from the crippling power of sin in this life.

Jesus died to release us from all guilt and shame to free us from the sin that so easily

entangles us.

Romans 6 14 says, the Christian is no longer under the law.

So what does it mean to be in Christ?

True believers are in Christ because they've died with Christ and have been raised to new

life with him.

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