Bondage versus Liberty
Grace removes the pressure to perform—freedom comes when the veil is lifted.
Devotional Credit: Day by Day by Grace by Bob Hoekstra
Photo Credit: Unsplash
Many of us grew up learning to live by performance—earning approval, hiding weakness, managing appearances. That’s the essence of law-based living: it’s a system rooted in self-sufficiency. We do our best, we hide our worst, and when we start to slip, we put a veil over the fading glory. Moses did this quite literally. When the radiance on his face—evidence of his encounter with God—began to dim, he kept the veil in place. Not to protect others, but to protect his image.
Paul uses this picture to contrast the bondage of the old covenant with the liberty of the new. Under the law, even a great man like Moses felt he had to manage how he appeared to others. Under grace, we no longer need to do this. The veil is taken away in Christ. We’re not drawing from ourselves anymore. Our sufficiency is from God. When we live in the reality of the new covenant, we don’t have to pretend or protect our image. The liberty of grace allows for boldness, not bravado—because our hope isn’t in ourselves, but in Him. If we stumble, we don’t have to hide it. If we shine, we don’t take the credit.
The new covenant frees us from self-performance and secrecy. In grace, we walk boldly—not because we have it all together, but because we know the One who does.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I have removed the veil that once lay heavy over your soul. No longer do you need to hide behind the illusion of having it all together. My glory is not a fleeting glow on the outside but a living presence within you. You are not sufficient in yourself—but I have made you sufficient through My Spirit.
Stop trying to maintain the illusion of strength. I am your strength. Stop trying to preserve an image of glory. My glory now dwells in you, transforming you from the inside out. This is not about what you can manage, produce, or fake. This is about what I supply freely and continually.
I have made you a minister of the new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. My Spirit gives life, liberty, and light. You are now a reflection of My Son—unveiled, honest, free. So speak boldly, live openly, and rest continually. You are not a performer under pressure. You are My child, My vessel, My dwelling place.
Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 3:5–6, 2 Corinthians 3:12–13, Romans 8:1–2, John 1:16
Real-Life Analogy
It’s like wearing makeup long past the time it has faded or smudged. You keep glancing in the mirror, hoping it still looks fresh, but deep down, you know it’s not what it was. Eventually, you reach for a wipe and let your real face breathe. Grace is that moment of freedom—when you stop trying to preserve the appearance and start living in the reality of who you truly are.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, thank You that I no longer need to wear a veil. I don’t have to maintain appearances or pretend to be more radiant than I am. Christ in me is the hope of glory, and that hope is real, alive, and sustaining. Thank You for making me sufficient—not by improving my performance, but by placing Your Spirit within me. I trust You to live Your life through me today, boldly and freely, without fear or pretense.