Aside from His predetermined primary purpose of giving Himself a ransom for many (Mk. 10:45), Jesus many times over stated His reason for coming was to preach (Mk. 1:38; Lk. 4:18, 43). Preaching the kingdom was Jesus focus prior to His sacrifice.

As He quoted of OT prophecy regarding Himself, “And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, ‘The spirit of the lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the lord.’
And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing’” (Lk. 4:17-21).

There is much in those few verses, one bit of which stands out. You may ask, in what way were captives released? Oh, praise be to God for Jesus coming! He taught elsewhere, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (Jn. 8:31-32). Free from what? To what are (or were) we captive? Jesus clarifies: ““Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn. 8:34-36).

Prior to salvation, all men are slaves to sin. But Jesus, who Himself is “the Truth” (Jn. 14:6), set us free from that enslavement. No longer are we slaves to sin, but now are, as Paul explains, “having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6:18). Therefore, as Paul exhorts, “just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification” (Rom. 6:19). This is echoed in Rom. 12:1 and 2, where Paul penned “I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Let us therefore, as Paul urges, present ourselves no longer to sin for it to be our master, since we have been set free. No, let us present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice to God, that He may be glorified through us and that Christ may live through us (Gal. 2:20).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, November 25

"To preach deliverance to the captives." Luke 4.18

None but Jesus can give deliverance to captives. Real liberty cometh from Him only. It is a liberty righteously bestowed"; for the Son, who is Heir of all things, has a right to make men free. The saints honour the justice of God, which now secures their salvation. It is a liberty which has been dearly purchased. Christ speaks it by His power, but He bought it by His blood. He makes thee free, but it is by His own bonds. Thou goest clear, because He bare thy burden for thee: thou art set at liberty, because He has suffered in thy stead. But, though dearly purchased, He freely gives it. Jesus asks nothing of us as a preparation for this liberty. He finds us sitting in sackcloth and ashes, and bids us put on the beautiful array of freedom; He saves us just as we are, and all without our help or merit. When Jesus sets free, the liberty is perpetually entailed"; no chains can bind again. Let the Master say to me, "Captive, I have delivered thee," and it is done for ever. Satan may plot to enslave us, but if the Lord be on our side, whom shall we fear? The world, with its temptations, may seek to ensnare us, but mightier is He who is for us than all they who be against us. The machinations of our own deceitful hearts may harass and annoy us, but He who hath begun the good work in us will carry it on and perfect it to the end. The foes of God and the enemies of man may gather their hosts together, and come with concentrated fury against us, but if God acquitteth, who is he that condemneth? Not more free is the eagle which mounts to his rocky eyrie, and afterwards outsoars the clouds, than the soul which Christ hath delivered. If we are no more under the law, but free from its curse, let our liberty be practically exhibited in our serving God with gratitude and delight. "I am Thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: Thou hast loosed my bonds." "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

Beloved, there is a reason that sloth is considered one of the “seven deadly sins.” While such a list can be said only loosely to be founded in Scripture, laziness is spoken against in many a passage.

We are told in Proverbs that “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man” (Prov. 24:33-34). Thinking we can while away our time and not pay consequences is foolishness. Laziness results in poverty.

Conversely, productivity and hard work result in sustenance, at the very least. This is, unfortunately, a result of living in a fallen world. As God promised Adam, “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; by the sweat of your face you will eat bread, until you return to the ground” (Gen. 3:17-19).

We often believe there is virtue in giving to those who lack, but how frequently do we consider the reason for that lack? Paul himself taught that “if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thes. 3:10). This echoes the admonition from Proverbs.

Therefore, let no one among the body of Christ lead an undisciplined life, not working but eating of the bread of others; instead let us work for and eat the fruit of our own labors and never grow weary of doing good (2 Thes. 3:12-13).

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Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, November 24

"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man." Proverbs 24:33, 34

The worst of sluggards only ask for a little slumber; they would be indignant if they were accused of thorough idleness. A little folding of the hands to sleep is all they crave, and they have a crowd of reasons to show that this indulgence is a very proper one. Yet by these littles the day ebbs out, and the time for labour is all gone, and the field is grown over with thorns. It is by little procrastinations that men ruin their souls. They have no intention to delay for years- a few months will bring the more convenient season- tomorrow if you will, they will attend to serious things; but the present hour is so occupied and altogether so unsuitable, that they beg to be excused. Like sands from an hour-glass, time passes, life is wasted by driblets, and seasons of grace lost by little slumbers. Oh, to be wise, to catch the flying hour, to use the moments on the wing! May the Lord teach us this sacred wisdom, for otherwise a poverty of the worst sort awaits us, eternal poverty which shall want even a drop of water, and beg for it in vain. Like a traveller steadily pursuing his journey, poverty overtakes the slothful, and ruin overthrows the undecided: each hour brings the dreaded pursuer nearer; he pauses not by the way, for he is on his master's business and must not tarry. As an armed man enters with authority and power, so shall want come to the idle, and death to the impenitent, and there will be no escape. O that men were wise be-times, and would seek diligently unto the Lord Jesus, or ere the solemn day shall dawn when it will be too late to plough and to sow, too late to repent and believe. In harvest, it is vain to lament that the seed time was neglected. As yet, faith and holy decision are timely. May we obtain them this night.