Bondage to sin is universal and everyone is born in sin. The Bible tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” and “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 3:23; 6:16). See also Romans 3:10. While we are still in our sins, we are in a spiritual prison.

How can we be delivered? True freedom, true happiness, freedom from fear, and freedom from guilt and condemnation, can come only when we are at peace with God and our lives are in agreement with his will. Bondage, on the other hand, is the result of reaching out for Satan’s false promise of liberty. Let us turn to the words of our Savior, Jesus Christ, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18).

To be delivered from sin, we must first of all admit that we are sinners and in bondage. We must repent of our sins. Repentance includes sorrow for our sin and turning away from sin. This may seem difficult, or nearly impossible to some. If we make an honest effort, and call on God for help and for forgiveness of sin, the Lord will lead us step by step to a conversion of the heart. We must accept deliverance and forgiveness by the blood of Jesus through faith. We read in the Bible, “In whom [Jesus] we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14). See also Romans 3:24-25; Romans 5:1; Romans 6:23; Acts 3:19; and John 3:3.

What are the effects of this spiritual freedom? When a person is truly born again as described above, his sins are washed away, and he has a free conscience. He now has power over sinful desires. Instead of yielding to temptations, he now is able to resist the desires of the flesh. He is living a new life in Christ and his aims are different. Instead of living only to please himself, he now seeks to please God and help others. His speech and use of time are different. He rejoices in the challenges of a life that is now filled with purpose and direction. Best of all, this freedom brings an assurance of eternal life in heaven. Even in the confines of a natural prison, this freedom of spirit and heart can be a reality. We read, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). See also Galatians 5:13.

Jesus, I Come

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee;

Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

William T. Sleeper

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Parents need to be alert to evil spirits that influence children. Evil spirits are subtle and destructive, and will seek to control a heart that is young and tender. When these become established in a child’s life, they are difficult to root out.

The spirit of rebellion is rampant in the world today. We read in 2 Timothy 3:1-2 that there will be disobedience to parents in the last days. The spirits of pride, anger and envy become evident in a child’s heart at an early age. It is important that parents possess the spirit of God so they can discern Satan’s work and deal with their children as the Lord directs.

Power to resist these spirits will only come through earnestly seeking the Lord in prayer. Failure to successfully accomplish this by God’s grace will leave the child with many frustrating disadvantages.

A child often manifests a stubborn self-will. When teaching and pleading in love and gentleness will not convince him, stricter methods of discipline must be applied. This will be for the future good and salvation of the child. The home and God’s kingdom will be blessed and society will benefit.

In Proverbs 13:24 we read, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). Oftentimes a lack of love for the child prevents parents from taking the right course in discipline.

These scripture quotations from the book of Proverbs do not approve nor encourage child abuse. The “rod of correction” has proven effective when administered with love. The pain the child feels causes the parents to suffer also. When a pure love for the child and his soul is alive in the heart of the parents, the punishment given will bind parents and child closer together. Parents who discipline with anger are apt not to achieve good results because confidence between the child and parents will be greatly strained or broken. Oh! That all parents would use the Bible method of training their children, and God’s blessing will surely follow.

Providing an atmosphere where children are taught by love and example is essential. Give children a consistent example of love, tolerance and compassion and you have given to them guidelines to constructive and consistent living. Show them that unbecoming language and behavior does not need spite or ridicule to correct it, and you have demonstrated to them the heart’s capacity for warmth in a trying situation. Teach them that sorrow and misfortune can befall anyone and that everyone merits compassion and understanding in the name of Christ—then you have given them the key to the heart of their fellow man.

Demonstrate to your child that God loves all men equally, and he will see the white fields of harvest our Savior saw (John 3:16, John 4:35).

Show your children by example that the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God (James 1:20), and you will have begun to lead them into the realm of man’s insufficiency and God’s sovereignty. God will conduct the affairs of all men according to his perfect will.

Show kindness and impartiality to those who are least and you have shown them the door to greatness.

Teach them that the redeeming grace of God is God’s remedy for sin and failure in every human heart, and you will have bequeathed to them the true reason for thankfulness. This will open doors of blessing and faith to them. If they acquire an unfeigned love for the truth, they will be led to the door of eternal life.

Family Beatitudes

Blessed is the family that honoreth the Lord;
That loves to worship side by side with hearts of one accord.
Blessed are the parents who will ever lead the way,
And bring the children to his house upon the Lord’s Day.

Blessed is the family that finds no greater thrill,
Than joining hands in Christian love to do the Master’s will.
Blessed is the family that daily bows in prayer,
And of the increase of their toil, will give the Lord his share.

Blessed is the family that taketh great delight,
In making of their home more than a shelter for the night.
Blessed is the family, whose circle is complete:
That find in one another a companionship so sweet.

Blessed is the family that bears a common load;
Rejoice and prays together as they travel on life’s road.
Blessed is the family where peace and joy abound;
And where distrust and greediness are never to be found.

Blessed is the family that maketh God their choice;
In whatever plans they draw will listen for his voice.
So that finally, when they, God’s will on earth have done;
They, with God and angels, in heaven will have a home.

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No seas and pretty flowers.

All was empty and dark.

But there was God.

God had a wonderful plan. He thought of a lovely world, and while He thought, He made it. He made it all out of nothing. When God made anything, He just said, “Let it be made,” and there it was!

He made light. He made the rivers and seas, the grass-covered earth, the animals, birds, and trees.

Last of all, He made a man, and then He made a wife for the man. Their names were Adam and Eve.

God loved them very dearly. Every evening He visited them in the lovely garden they lived in.

The whole garden was theirs to enjoy, except for one tree, which was God’s forbidden tree.

Adam and Eve were happy until one day Satan, the enemy of God, tempted them. They decided to taste the fruit of God’s forbidden tree. They sinned. For the first time they were ashamed and sad.

No longer could they talk to God. Now they would have pain and trouble. And they would have to die. How sorry they were!

God promised to help them. When the right time would come, He would send his Son Jesus into the world. Jesus would come down from heaven and make a way for sin to be forgiven. To do this He would suffer and die for mankind. How glad they were that God would send a Savior!

Adam and Eve had children and grandchildren. By and by there were many people living in the world.

God wanted everyone to be happy. He told them what to do. Here is a list of rules God gave them (Exodus 20:3-17):

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

These were written in the Bible so we can read them, too. If we obey them, we will be happy.

Satan does not want us to obey them. Sometimes he tells us to steal something when no one is looking. But God knows it. God sees everything.

Sometimes Satan tempts us to tell a lie and makes us think no one will find it out. God knows it. He hears everything.

When we do these things, we feel bad inside. God loves us and wants to help us to be good. That’s why He sent Jesus into the world. God remembered his promise. After many years, Jesus was born as a little baby. He grew up and became a man.

He did many wonderful things. He healed the sick. He made the blind to see. He blessed the children.

Jesus never did anything wrong. He told the people about God and how to obey Him.

After a while the enemies of Jesus nailed Him to a cross. He died.

He suffered and died for the sins of all the people, even those who nailed Him to the cross.

Jesus was buried. But then a wonderful thing happened. He did not stay in the grave. He arose from the dead!

Soon God took Him back to heaven in a cloud. While his friends were watching Him leave, an angel told them Jesus would come back again.

Jesus died for our sins, too. He wants us to be sorry and confess our sins. He is ready to forgive us.

We can pray to God anytime. He hears every word and knows every thought. He makes us feel happy inside when our sins are forgiven. Then we want to do what is right. Then we want to be kind.

We may choose to disobey God and follow Satan. But God’s word says that if we reject Him in this life, He will cast us down to hell. Hell is a place of fire that burns forever.

But if we love and obey Jesus, He will take us up to heaven when He returns. Heaven is the beautiful home of God and his Son Jesus. It is a home of love and light. There we will always be happy.

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