OnFireFit

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Added 2024-04-01 11:00:03 +0000 UTC

Good morning!

Not long ago I was reading a devotion that told the story of a man named Mr. Bi who was a professor at Beijing University, also known as “the Harvard of China.” One day he made a joke in class about the Communist party and the next day he was in jail.

Chinese prisons were tortuous and barbaric. He soon found himself in depression and despair. He wanted to jump out the window of his cell, 8 stories above the ground. But a small voice told him, “Don’t go. Don’t go. Don’t go.”

He then remembered people who had told him the good news of Jesus. He invited Jesus in with a simple prayer of “Jesus, if You are real, please bring me this forgiveness and peace my friend told me You promised. In turn, I will offer my life and service to You.”

He suddenly had a bright new hope and couldn’t contain himself. He shouted “I have a bright future in Jesus Christ!” Although he was beaten for this, he maintained his joy. He was eventually released and started orphanages in China, cared for the poor and led many to Christ.

One of the main points this devotion brought out is that we all at times feel we are in a prison of our own making. We may feel imprisoned by thoughts, habits, actions or our past. The worst prison is the one we make for ourselves.

What we need is a drastic change and that came through the drastic measures God took to rescue us. He died in our place in a grueling way so that we could know the depth of freedom of His love and mercy. We always think we can rescue ourselves but when we realize how we need God to do the work, we can truly embrace the good news.

We have to preach to ourselves every day. Preach the good news that God’s love and power overcomes all. He sent Jesus to overcome all that overcomes us. Praise Him!

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1

(Devotional reference: Chosen: Remind Yourself of the Gospel)