Freedom in Christ

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery...You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:1,13)

Thoughts: Jesus said, "The truth shall set you free, and you shall be free indeed" (Jn. 8:32).  The truth of Christ sets us free.  Christ's truth enables us to finally trust someone.  There are times we cannot trust our leaders, our teachers, those who are supposed to have our best interest at heart.  Today people have a mixed up idea that truth is not real.  But being able to trust in the truth of Christ sets us free from fear and distrust.  We can trust in faith that after death there is life for those who believe.  We can trust that doing good and right is important.  We mistakenly sometimes think that if we can do anything we want, we will be free.  But our sins can trap us- just as addictions can trap us.  The evil we think is so intriguing can take away our hope and joy- like a food that tastes sweet to the mouth but turns sour in the stomach.  
    In Christ we are called to live free from sin, free from death, free from destruction.  It is by God's grace that we are called to be free.  He comes to our prison to release us - not for good behavior, but as the one who takes our irons off and puts them on him.  In gratitude, we should live good lives.  I remember the movie, "Saving Private Ryan" where the captain (Miller) comes to find and rescue Ryan from danger- but dies in the process.  He whispers to him as he dies, "Earn this."  Truth is, we can never earn the death of Christ.  But we can live in a grateful way so that we do not take for granted what He has done.  We do not, as our passage says, need to indulge in the flesh, but we can serve one another in love. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the freedom we have.  Help me to make the most of the freedom you have given me.  

 “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” -Nelson Mandela

8/8/14 Freedom

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5)''

Thoughts: The illusion is that if we don't believe in Christ and we don't follow Him we get to go our own way- free.  But the truth is we are slaves to something else already- and we may not even know it.  Christ came to set us free from that slavery.  We are slaves to this earth- to be all involved in the temporary, and to think that this life is all there is- so we become short-sighted.  Christ came to tell us that the kingdom of heaven is both here and in the life to come- that we are not slaves to popularity, or to beauty or to the smart or to the earthly powerful.  We are also slaves to sin.  That is we have a natural tendency to be selfish, proud, and tend to bad habits.  Jesus sets us free- so that we are other centered- loving God and neighbor as ourselves.  Jesus sets us free from pride, giving us grace to be humble.  Jesus sets us free from bad habits- allowing us to do good.  It doesn't always make sense.  To the selfish, other-centeredness doesn't make sense.  So the doctors who left families to minister to those with Ebola risking their own lives to do so, are criticized by some as if they were selfish to do this.  Christ sets us free from navel gazing or only being focused on our own area and own families.  

Prayer: Lord, help me appreciate the freedom you give me. 

1/14/13- Breaking Chains

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) 

Thoughts: It has been said for centuries- "Christ has set us free."  Yet, for centuries skeptics believe that Christ takes our freedom away.  The difference may be that Christ- when we are fully given to him- takes our desire for the things that enslave us away.  Things like drugs, over-indulgence, sexual immorality.  But He doesn't just take our desire away, He replaces them with better desires that fit in with how we are designed- things like focus, direction, love and marriage, commitment to making a healthy family.  The things that locked up our consciences and hearts are opened so our hearts become tender and sensitive again to God. 

Prayer: May we, Lord, be set free from the chains of evil. Keep us this day from going back to those chains.  Instead, set me free to be the person I was made to be for your glory, and for the opportunity to enjoy you.  

We confess that God alone is Lord of the conscience, but this
freedom is for the purpose of allowing us to be subject always
and primarily to God’s Word. The Spirit will never prompt
our conscience to conclusions that are at odds with the Scriptures
that He has inspired. The revelation of the incarnate
Word does not minimize, qualify, or set aside the authority of
the written Word. We are happy to confess ourselves captive
to the Word of God, not just individually, but also as members
of a community of faith, extending through time and around
the globe. In particular, we join with other members of the
Presbyterian and Reformed community to affirm the secondary
authority of the Book of Confessions as a faithful exposition of
the Word of God.