Living Symbols, Lasting Freedom
No longer guided by maps—we walk with the Guide Himself.
Devotional Credit:
Immeasurably More
Photo Credit:
Unsplash
Today’s devotional from Ray Stedman reminds us that Paul never told Jews to abandon the Law of Moses or circumcision altogether. Rather, he clearly drew a distinction between Jewish believers who could continue their cultural observances as symbols pointing to Christ, and Gentile believers who were not to be burdened with those rituals. For Paul, it was never about rejecting the past—it was about recognizing how it had been fulfilled in Christ.
The ceremonies and sacrifices of the Old Covenant were not discarded as trash but treasured as shadowy signposts that pointed to the substance found in Jesus. Even after Jesus' death and resurrection, Jewish believers who continued temple practices weren’t rebuked for doing so. These actions were seen as a reminder, not a requirement—a temporary expression that would fade away when the temple was destroyed in AD 70, just as Jesus predicted.
Paul’s life is a vivid testimony of freedom—not a freedom to rebel, but a freedom to yield in love. He could live among Jews like a Jew and among Gentiles like a Gentile, always with the goal of making Christ known. His freedom wasn't lawlessness—it was Spirit-led sensitivity. His liberty wasn’t for self-expression but Christ-expression.
This is the same freedom we walk in today. We don’t need to return to symbols to find Christ—He lives in us. But we can appreciate how God used symbols to point to His Son, who now dwells within, guiding us moment by moment into the life He secured for us.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture:
My beloved, I have not placed you under the heavy yoke of religious systems. You have died to the law through the body of My Son, and now you belong to the One who was raised from the dead, that you might bear fruit for Me. I no longer call you to live by written codes, but by the Spirit who gives life.
You are free—not to indulge the flesh, but to walk by the Spirit. The symbols served their purpose, but now the reality is within you. Christ is in you—your hope of glory. You no longer need shadows when the Light has come. Yet I will guide you in wisdom and gentleness when you are with others who are still learning these truths. Walk humbly and gently, just as My servant Paul did, that others may see the fragrance of Christ in you.
Let your freedom express itself in love. If you are among those who need assurance, be patient. If among the strong, be discreet. Whether in weakness or in strength, in ceremony or in simplicity, let Christ be seen—not by outward ritual but by inward rest.
In every circumstance, I am your guide. You are free to trust Me—to let Christ live through you in peace, in discernment, and in quiet confidence. The law pointed toward Him; now you walk with Him. Not by the symbols of stone, but by the Spirit who writes upon your heart.
Scripture References: Romans 7:4-6; Galatians 5:1,13-14; Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 9:20-22; Hebrews 8:5; Hebrews 10:1; Galatians 3:23-25; Romans 14:1-5; John 1:17; Matthew 24:2
Real-Life Analogy:
It’s like using a map to reach a destination. For years, the map guides you—every road, turn, and marker leading you toward the place you’ve longed to see. But once you arrive, you don’t keep staring at the map. You step into the place itself, breathe it in, and live in it. The map isn’t wrong—it’s fulfilled.
That’s how the Law functioned. It pointed to Christ. But now that you are in Him, you’re no longer navigating by symbols—you’re resting in the reality.
So when you interact with others who are still clinging to the map, don’t snatch it from their hands. Walk beside them. Let the Spirit in you speak through patience and love, as you trust Christ to guide your words and attitude. Maybe at your next family gathering, when religious conversations arise, you won’t need to argue. Just quietly reflect His presence in you and let others see the freedom you live in—not flaunted, but peace-filled and real.
Prayer of Confidence:
Father, thank You that I’m not under a burden of rituals or performance. I’m not looking for You in shadows—I’m walking with You in Spirit. You’ve made me free in Christ, and I now live by Your indwelling life, not by outward forms. I rejoice that the symbols once pointed to Jesus, but now I have Him, not in symbol, but in Spirit and truth. I trust You to lead me with love when I encounter those who still hold to old forms. You are my wisdom in those moments. Thank You for the freedom I now enjoy—not as license, but as life.