Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty

2 Corinthians 3:17

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The children of Israel lived in the bondage of Egypt for over 400 years. But if we were to understand this fully, we would see that their greatest bondage was not the bondage of Egypt, but their bondage to the law. And thus, they were in bondage to sin, and complaining, and murmuring, and idolatry. They had no freedom, because the letter killeth. If we do not understand the spirit of something, it will become death to us. And even to this very day, Israel is blinded, and there is a vail upon their hearts. We are saddened that even on this side of Calvary and on this side of the glorious resurrection, Israel still has the vail on their hearts untaken away. When they read the Torah, that is the law, they are still blinded. They do not see that the law was the schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, and they reject the actual thing that cast the shadow, and only look at the shadow. Christ was the fulfillment of the law. The law foreshadowed Him. But they still see only the figure and not the Person. How tragic this is! But if they will turn to the Lord, the vail can be taken away. And some have done this. And many have found liberty as they have turned to Christ.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty! When we understand the spirit of it and not just the letter of it, something changes. We have liberty! Liberty to see! Liberty to understand! Liberty to know! Liberty from shackles and bondage! Liberty from the enslavement of sin that the law brings! This liberty only comes from the Spirit of God! And, dear friend, you will never be liberated from your bondage without the Spirit of the Lord. He makes us see, hear, and know. Without Him, we are in perpetual chains. Oh God, give us complete liberty by your Spirit! We want no more bondage! We want liberty! Liberty in Christ! We want no bondage! May we this day yield to His Spirit, that our eyes may be opened, and our bondage may be alleviated. Try nothing by your own power and might. Know that liberty will only be possible through Him.

“Father, we thank you for the example we find here concerning Israel. How we pray that the vail would be removed for those who still are blind! May the glorious light of the gospel burst into their darkness and turn them from the darkness of sin to the glorious light of Christ! And if any of us believers still are under some bondage, may we be delivered through the Spirit of God, for we know that liberty only comes from your Spirit. In the name of Jesus our Savior we pray, Amen.”