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Juneteenth — Freedom Proclaimed
A devotion for June 19
In the Word
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation (Isaiah 52:7a).
Of the Word
On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln declared all slaves in the rebelling states to be free from that day forward. On June 19, 1865, the enslaved men and women in Galveston, Texas, heard this message of freedom for the first time from Union soldiers. For more than two years they had continued to live in bondage, unaware of their status as free men and women.
Millions of men, women, and children across this nation and throughout the world are still living in slavery to sin, death, and the devil, unaware that Christ has already won their freedom through His death on Calvary and His resurrection from the dead at Easter.
The Union soldiers had an important message of freedom to share. Believers in Christ have an even more powerful message of freedom to share with the world. As those who have experienced the joy of being released from bondage to sin, how can we help but spread the Good News of freedom through Christ to everyone who has not yet heard it?
Walking with my Lord
Dear Jesus, I was a slave to sin, death, and the devil and had nothing to hope for but eternal damnation. You set me free by taking my sin on Yourself on the cross and rose again to proclaim that freedom had been won for me and all believers. I praise Your name. Help me to proclaim this Good News to everyone who has not yet heard it. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible unless otherwise noted. (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Mustard Seed: Juneteenth — Freedom Proclaimed by Ruth Badciong, Winona, Minnesota
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