The Great Exchangeಮಾದರಿ

Luke 4:18-19 (NET)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Sin is a reality in the world we live in. We experience its consequences daily, feeling its grip in different ways in this broken world. For us, the consequences of sin in the world can be seen in negative experiences we may have gone through in the past, injustice and evil around us, or wrestling with temptation in our own lives. The good news is that Jesus overcame the power of sin, giving us the opportunity to live in freedom from the sin that easily ensnares us. The freedom Jesus offers is not necessarily going to change the evil around us but it will change our hearts to resist what is unholy and walk in the love and light of Jesus. Living in Jesus’ freedom allows us to experience the reality of his kingdom in a broken and corrupt world.

Everyone faces temptation and everyone will have a decision to make: whether to give in to temptation which is sin or to choose righteousness—the way of life that Jesus demonstrated.

In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus declares that he was anointed to proclaim good news and to set free those who are oppressed. Before following Jesus,, sin ruled our lives, but now we have Jesus and by the power of his Holy Spirit, we can resist temptation and walk in the freedom he has given us.

The reason this is possible is because of the Holy Spirit who now lives within us. He is the one who gives us the ability to say no and to resist temptation. Scripture reminds us in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." The Holy Spirit is our helper, and he gives us not only the strength but also the willingness to do what pleases God—which is to live with a pure heart and resist evil.

Today, remember that Christ has already won the victory. Sin has no power over you. Temptation will come, but you have a helper whose name is the Holy Spirit. He is within you, helping you choose righteousness and live in his freedom. As you understand this truth, let it be the motivation that leads you to overcome what has tempted you in the past. Trust that God is able to help you. You are no longer a slave, but a victor over sin.

Questions to reflect on:

• How can you live in response to the freedom that Jesus has given you?
• What does Jesus’ victory over sin mean for your daily struggles with temptation?

Prayer: God I thank you that you’ve set me free from sin. Give me grace to overcome the struggles I face today and let me live righteously as you’ve called me to do. Amen.