Dear Friends,
While it is true that slavery was practiced in the Bible, it was very different from the slavery that was practiced before the Civil War and from the slavery that is still practiced in various parts of the world. An Israelite could only be enslaved to pay debt and then only for seven years after which he must be set free and given money to help start life again. Every 50 years came the Year of Jubilee when all slaves were freed. All this was to picture our situation before salvation and the freedom with which Christ sets His people free. Today’s devotional speaks of that glorious freedom. Please don’t rush through it but take time to meditate on the word and remember how they applied and do apply to you. God bless you.

Because of Calvary,
John Janney

• Luke 4:16-21 (ESV)

  16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

  18 “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 liberty to the captives
  and recovering of sight to the blind,
  to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
  19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
  20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

BLOW YE THE TRUMPET, BLOW!

“Blow ye the trumpet, blow!
The gladly solemn sound
Let all the nations know,
To earth’s remotest bound;

The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home;
Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hath full atonement made;
Ye weary spirits, rest;
Ye mournful souls, be glad:

Extol the Lamb of God;
The sacrificial Lamb;
Redemption through his blood
Throughout the world proclaim:

Ye slaves of sin and hell,
Your liberty receive;
And safe in Jesus dwell,
And blest in Jesus live:

Ye who have sold for naught
Your heritage above,
Receive it back unbought,
The gift of Jesus’ love:

The gospel trumpet hear,
The news of heavenly grace;
And, saved from earth, appear
Before your Savior’s face:”

[Charles Wesley]