September 27, the power of a superior promise.

I shall walk in freedom, for I have sought your precepts.

Psalm 11945.

An essential element of joy is freedom.

None of us would be happy if we were not free from what we hate and free for what we love.

And where do you find true freedom?

Psalm 11945 says, I shall walk in freedom, for I have sought your precepts.

The picture is one of open spaces. The word frees us from smallness of mind. God gave Solomon breadth of mind like the sand

on the seashore, 1 Kings 429. The word frees us from threatening confinements. He brought me out into a broad place, Psalm 18, 19.

Jesus says, you will know the truth,

and the truth will set you free.

John 832. The freedom he has in mind is freedom from the slavery of sin.

John 834. Or to put it positively, it is freedom for holiness.

The promises of God's grace provide the power that makes the demands of God's holiness

and experience of freedom rather than fear and confinement.

Peter described the freeing power of God's promises like this.

Through his precious and very great promises, you become partakers of the divine nature,

having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

2. Peter chapter 1, verse 4.

In other words, when we trust the promises of God,

we sever the root of corruption and sinful desire

by the power of a superior promise.

...