Forgiveness

Love and Forgiveness {Luke 7:40-50}

11:00 PM


While in Galilee, Jesus accepted a dinner invitation from a Pharisee named Simon. As He was reclining at the table, the Lord was set upon by a woman who after crashing the party, fell on her knees before Him weeping. In humbleness, with her hair,  she wiped away her fallen tears on Jesus’ feet; kissing them, and anointing them with alabaster oil. Simon, appalled at this shameful display said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” (vs. 7:39) Simon thought of himself as highly esteemed and religious. Yet when he witnesses this woman showing her love for Jesus, her thankfulness for His forgiveness, and her sorrow over her wicked past, his own heart isn’t moved. Instead, filled with self righteousness, he sees only her sin. Knowing the hypocrisy of Simon, Jesus shared with him a parable of two debtors and says, “For this reason I say to you, her sins which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (vs. 7:47) 

“The point Jesus is making is if we are not each aware of how great our own sin debt to God is in His eyes, we will not have a proper degree of love and gratitude to God for the mercy that He has shown us in making forgiveness of that debt possible for Jesus' sake. We will also not show the proper love and forgiveness toward our neighbors, because we will think of ourselves as being better than they are, rather than as being just as much in need of God's grace and mercy ourselves as they are.” (ebible.com) And I have to tell you, just like he did with Simon, Jesus drove that same point home to me these past few days.

Due to the recent ice storms in our area many lost their electricity, ourselves included. Being fortunate enough to have a generator, we were at least afforded heat and the ability to provide power to a few essential appliances. Family members, without power themselves, came to stay with us until their electricity was restored. This included my mother. Now it’s no secret that my mother and I have had a contentious relationship, so the thought of spending so much time together left me feeling a bit trepidatious. As day one turned into day two, I found the familiar feelings of resentment, anger, and hurt beginning to creep in. And after a discussion about Jesus, where it was clear that our beliefs differed greatly in certain areas, I decided it best to take some time out and work on my blog post that was about of all things, forgiveness. Little did I know that God was about to give me an eye opener I wouldn’t soon forget! 

As I read about Simon I immediately felt indignant at how he looked upon the woman at the feet of Jesus. I thought, “Typical Pharisee. Can’t see his own sins through his sanctimonious forest of the sins of others.” Right then and there, God laid a conviction on my heart. It turns out, Simon wasn’t so different from myself. The Lord revealed to me that all of this time, I have been looking at my Mother through the self righteous eyes of Simon.

Before if anyone had asked, I would have said that I had forgiven my Mother for hurts of the past. And it’s true, that many times I have prayed for a heart towards her that is free of bitterness and anger. But that night after some serious soul searching, I realized that although my lips said forgiveness, my heart did not. I still harbored hurt and records of every grievance against me she  committed. Like Simon, when I looked at her all I could see was her sins and need for forgiveness; conveniently overlooking my own sins and the great need for forgiveness that I too possessed. I was ashamed of my “holier than thou attitude” and prayed that God would truly open my eyes and allow me to see her as Jesus sees her, loved and forgiven.

The next morning over coffee, my Mother and I were watching the news of the day. This lead to her talking about things she experienced growing up and throughout her life; including hurts, disappointments, and sorrows of the past. The stories she told I had heard countless times before. And before when I heard them, I immediately would think, “Oh here we again. Trying to be the victim when we know I’m the real victim.” I must say I played the part of the martyr well. But unlike before, this time I actually listened to her with open ears and an open heart. And what I heard were the stories of a woman who like myself has experienced hurts and injustices. A woman who has been wounded and whose heart bears the scars. A woman who has made mistakes and experienced the consequences. And most of all, a woman who deserves my real and honest love and forgiveness. And not because I regard myself as greater or holier than her, but because my sins are just as grievous as hers, and yet God in His mercy so willingly forgave and continues to forgive mine.

Forgiving others although not easy, is possible. It’s possible through the strength of the Holy Spirit and with a full heart. Why? Because a heart filled with love and thankfulness for God’s mercy and forgiveness finds it impossible not to motivate us to forgive others. “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19) 

I just love how God works! Although the ice storm was responsible for frozen power lines, roads, and water pipes, it was also was responsible for the thawing of my frozen heart. By the time the power was restored and my Mother was ready to go home I had developed a new appreciation for her not only as my Mother, but as a fellow daughter of God. And although my forgiving heart is a work in progress, as is our mother/daughter relationship, I am forever grateful to the Lord for this break through.

We have another ice storm in the forecast for next week. And although I would never wish for a repeat of what our state just experienced, I can for the first time in a long time, say that if my Mother has to come and stay, I will honestly look forward to spending time with her! To God goes the glory!

To read more about forgiveness, follow the link

https://t2womenintheword.blogspot.com/2018/12/god-forgives-and-forgets-hebrews-71-928.html


anxiety

Freedom From Anxiety- Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled {John 14}

12:00 AM




“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

After suffering a childhood trauma, I was diagnosed with PTSD. As a result, I know full well the debilitating effects anxiety can have both mentally and physically in a person’s life. I have experienced the feelings of panic, fear, and irrational thoughts. I have been stuck in place frozen in fear; unable to take a step forward. I have had times of hiding myself away from the world because it was easier then dealing with my anxiousness. And although it’s a battle I still fight, there are ways I found to control anxiety so that it no longer controls me.

First and foremost is God. When I find the familiar feelings of anxiety creeping in, I immediately begin to pray. Praying keeps my mind from racing and focused on God. I cry out to Him all I am feeling, and picture His hand firmly gripping mine while I ride out the storm swirling inside. I read aloud from a list of Bible verses that I find both encouraging and comforting. I practice breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques learned from a trusted counselor. I take medication when necessary, not listening to the lie of the Enemy who whispers in my ear that there is shame in taking a pill. And most of all, I remind myself that no matter how bad it feels right now, this too shall pass.

If there is anything to be benefited from suffering with anxiety, it has taught me to be completely dependent on God. I love and trust Him implicitly, and lay claim to the promise of Jesus who tells me, “Peace I give to you.” A peace that although doesn’t promise a life free from trials and tribulations, does promise an internal peace so strong, no storm of anxiety can rattle. How is this internal peace supplied? The moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, One whom Jesus calls, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name.” (vs. 14:26), comes to indwell in us. The same Holy Spirit who gave Joshua, Gideon, and Samson the power to do seemingly impossible things, promises to also give us power over the demon of anxiety. I love what I found on the website Grace to You (gty.org) which says. “The peace Jesus is speaking of enables believers to remain calm in the most wildly fearful circumstances. It enables them to hush a cry, still a riot, rejoice in pain and trial, and sing in the middle of suffering.”

God doesn’t want you living trapped in anxiety. If you’re suffering, be proactive. Begin with your doctor. Make sure there isn’t some underlying health issue causing your symptoms. Sometimes something as simple as diet and lifestyle changes can be all it takes to feel better. Talk to your minister, rabbi, pastor or priest. Ask around for recommendations for a good counselor. Share your feelings and struggles with those around you. And above all else, turn to the Lord. He loves you and wants to see you victorious in every area of your life. And just like Paul prayed for the Thessalonians, I too pray for you; “May the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.” (2 Thess. 3:16)



diet

Celebrating our Freedom in Christ! {Galatians 5-6}

8:00 PM


Recently I decided it was time to start changing my eating habits! Have you noticed all the diet plans out there lately?? We have Paleo, Clean, Gluten Free, Sugar, Dairy, and Grain Free… Low Fat… Low Carb… just to name a few! The truth is, as good as these programs may be, they won’t work if you don’t stick to the plan. And that’s my problem! I’m usually pretty good for a few days...until the weekend arrives!

 This is definitely one instance where following all the rules can pay off, but let me ask you, have you, or do you know someone who has followed the plans completely, no cheating…ever!? Their entire life!? It’s good to have a plan until you stop following it!

Following a list of rules and regulations can make our journey easier at times, but when it comes to choosing a list of rules over following Christ it becomes “legalism”. What exactly is legalism?

The best definition I could find was, pursuing “good works” with the intention of earning God’s favor.  John Piper explained it this way: “The essence of legalism is when faith is not the engine of obedience”. Essentially, when we work toward earning God’s favor, we are not choosing to walk in faith. Instead, our actions seem to convey that we believe it’s all about “faith plus works”. Jesus’ work wasn’t enough, and therefore we must work to somehow gain God’s approval.

I was taught this growing up until someone showed me Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” These two verses tell us that there is nothing we could ever do to earn God’s favor and therefore, there is also nothing we can do to loose it. That’s freeing!

“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


Jesus came to set us free! We discovered in the Old Testament that the Israelites were forever breaking The Law and choosing to follow other gods and other ways, and God promised, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you,” the Lord promised. “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezek. 36:26–27).

The first evidence of this new heart, or the Spirit’s presence in our life, is that we will have a deep love for God and desire to please Him, BUT will we obey Him and His commands completely?

 No. In this life, even the holiest have not been perfect. No believer is completely pure, but we now possess the beginnings of purity. Each of us, once we accept Christ, we posses the beginning of, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”(Gal 5:22-23).  These "fruits of the Spirit" are evidences of who is now large and in charge in our life.

Each day of our Christian life we are offered fresh opportunities for the life that God has begun in you to grow stronger; along with the promise that when you stand in the presence of God, what He has begun in you will be complete (Phil. 1:6).

We have the freedom to know we’ll never be perfect this side of heaven, but we’ve been given the freedom to journey through this life with a Friend who will promises to stick closer than a brother and has the power to perfect what God began in you!  

Faith

Freedom in Faith {Galatians 3:1 - 4:31}

12:30 AM


Tuesday, November 20, 2018

For those of us living in the United States, we live in the “Land of the Free.”  So often when we think of freedom, we think we are free to do what we want, whenever we want.  Personal independence – the ability to make our own decisions and choose our own path in life.

When I came to verses 4:21-31, Sarah and Hagar,  I studied it for a week and I had to write it out like this:

Sarah                                                            Hagar

Abraham Covenant                                      Mosaic Covenant
Grace                                                              Law
Spirituality                                                    Carnality
Miraculous Birth                                         Birth against God’s will
No Conditions                                              Conditions
No Strings Attached                                    Merited Favor

I have been known to take matters into my own hands, so I can relate to Abraham and Sarah getting frustrated with their promise of a child not happening in their timing.  Over and over, when I have taken matters into my own hands, a bigger mess seems to occur.  And how sad to fully realize what happens when we don’t fully trust God – we inherit nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  Zero.  Just like Israel, when they tried to keep the law on their own, all they received was legalism.

Since Ishmael was not accepted as an heir, he was no better than his mother - a slave.  And when the Israelites, or us for that matter, take the law upon ourselves without trusting God for His gift of grace, we become slaves because we have no freedom to do the law from the heart, and because of our unbelief, we are locked into disobedience and excluded from the inheritance. 

I like the idea of freedom.  I believe the older I get the more people seem to judge me.  The color of my skin, my occupation, the car I drive, my political interests, the vacations I take, the food I eat, my ideals, my children and their choices, and my faith.  So yes, I like the idea of freedom.  I have also worked for nearly 28 years for the 2nd largest police department in our state and there is a lot of laws and rules to follow.

So how do we become a child of God?  Well, it’s easy - accepting Jesus Christ’s death on the cross as payment for our sin.  Except we are so used to paying for what we get.  I’m not a good gift giver, nor a good receiver of gifts.  I’m used to working for what I have and following the rules of how to obtain them.  Yet becoming a Christian seems so simple. However, there’s a trust factor you must come to terms with and it’s not so easy for some.    Becoming a Christian is supernatural. 

As we submit to Christ, sin loses its power and Christ’s power takes over.  As we choose to trust and follow Him, our sinful habits, thoughts and attitudes lose their control.  Guilt disappears, and peace of mind dominates.  Right habits become the norm.  Now that’s true freedom!

As we learn to live by faith in the Son of God, and don’t rely on what we can achieve on our own, we are no longer in the slave category – but in the category of freedom!  You may be asking, why aren’t the Ishmael-types free?  Because they lack the desire to rest in God’s promises.  It’s not that they desire to reject God.  They simply want Him on their own terms.  Abraham and Hagar wanted God’s blessing, but not on HIS terms.

The old childhood song we all sang, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong” isn’t easy for Ishmael-types.  They rely on human resources.  They don’t like to admit that they are children in need of a father, or like a patient in need of a doctor.

Ishmael-types do not have saving faith.  They don’t have the freedom of desire for saving faith.  They also lack the freedom of eternal life, because no one who prefers to live in his own strength rather than trusting God will be saved and go to heaven.  And worst of all, the hardness of heart that spurns childlike dependence on God will also darken their understanding.  We all know that the most common use of our mind is to justify our desires.  Therefore, deeply wrong desires will deeply mislead the mind until it is not able to understand what is right.  So Ishmael-types are not free because they lack the freedom of desire to rest in God’s sovereign grace; and therefore, they lack the freedom of ability to understand God’s will; and finally, they lack the freedom of eternal joy, because the life they have chosen leads to destruction. 

Image result for Galatians 3:9




So as a person with trust issues, I turned to Scripture to see who Jesus was a friend of and we all know, Jesus was a friend of sinners.  The woman thrown into the center of a huge crowd, forever marked as a woman of adultery.  What about the Man right next to her?   Her accusers questioned Him about her punishment.

What about the woman at the well?  The woman was a Samaritan, hated and rejected as an outcast of the worst type, especially by those “following God”.  Jesus decided to stop and rest at the well and struck up a conversation with this sinner and outcast.  She even admits to her adulterous life.  By the end of their conversation Jesus declared Himself the Messiah and she gratefully accepted that revelation.  Jesus wasn’t finished with His work, so he headed into town with her and hung out with the villagers for two additional days (John 41:1-42).

Jesus hung out with tax collectors (Matthew and Zacchaeus), which upset many of the religious leaders of the time. 

What about the story of the “Good Samaritan”?  Isn’t it in our own nature to avoid situations and people that make us uncomfortable?  This story shows us that our neighbor is anyone, even someone with different religious and moral beliefs, an outcast, a rebel, or even our enemy.  Jesus demonstrates how we should always show compassion and mercy toward others.

I apologize for this long post, but I had to ask myself as I studied Sarah and Hagar, which one do I follow?  Am I walking this time on earth trusting in God’s promise and truly following Jesus, who is a friend of sinners?  Or do I follow Hagar’s tendency to walk according to my own plans and follow the laws of this world?  Or as the iworship says, am I placing myself in “bondage to works and religious rituals?”  Or as I heard on the radio last week, am I forcing myself to adhere to a set of rules set forth by some who believe there's a standard for a Christian life?  Are there a certain number of bible studies I must do?  Are there a certain number of people I must meet with weekly?  Do I need to pray for a certain number of hour or on specific days?  

"Consequently, it is clear that no one can ever be right with God by trying to keep the law.  For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."  (3:11)

Image result for Galatians 4:9

Faith

Words by Roxanna~ Faith: Love and Freedom

1:22 PM



In early February 1974 I was facing the biggest decision of my life. I was convinced through reading the New Testament that Jesus really was the Son of God. But I did not want to be a Christian as I feared that I would lose my freedom. The last things that I associated with faith were love and freedom. In fact, the opposite was the case. I associated faith with losing my freedom. I thought that God would want me to stop doing all the things that were fun and that I enjoyed.
 
For many people today, freedom and love are the last things in the world that they associate with faith. In fact, I have discovered over the last 40 years, and as we see in today’s passages, that true faith leads to freedom and love. Love, faith and freedom are inextricably entwined.

Blessings,
Roxanna

free

True Freedom {John 7:10 - 8}

12:00 AM



I’m writing this post just as a woman has come out accusing Judge Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct while in high school in order to derail or delay the vote to add him to the highest court in the nation. Everyone seems to be scrambling to discover the truth, and by the time you’re reading this I hope we’ll have discovered it! What is happening today is reminiscent of what was happening in these chapters we read this morning- everyone, well not everyone exactly, certainly not the religious leaders of that day, but there were others scrambling to determine whether Jesus was who He claimed to be. So, Jesus assures them that there is a way of discovering the truth for themselves, and not only that, the truth they are seeking will bring freedom:
So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.-John 8:31-32

Jesus had just finished a speech at the temple where He has described the differences between Himself and His listeners. “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:23–24). Could you imagine being there to hear such words? And we learn a few verses later that the result of His message was that, “as he spoke, many believed in him” (v.30).

Jesus then goes onto assure those who chose to believe His message, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples’” (John 8:31). This tells us that true discipleship has to be more than mere head knowledge; a true disciple will “hold fast to [His] teachings and live in accordance with them”. Which means they will not only accept His teachings as truth, but they will also follow (or obey) them. James would later assure us that our actions would be proof of our faith (cf. James 2:17). And then John would later go onto assure us that true disciples will not only know the truth, but their eyes would be open to an even greater understanding of it (cf. 1 John 5:20).

BUT even greater than that, Jesus went onto add, “And the truth will set you free” (v.32). 

At this time in history, the Jews were under the rule of the Roman government. Even though Rome gave them some freedoms, the people were always aware of the Roman presence around them in the form of soldiers and governors and wanted nothing more than freedom from their rule over them!

When Jesus said the truth would set them free, however, He was not talking about political freedom (though the following verses indicate that’s how they received the news at that time). Jesus had something far better for them and goes onto explain in verse 34, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Being a slave to sin is our ultimate bondage, and the freedom Jesus was offering was a spiritual freedom.

Which for us means freedom or a release from the lifestyle of habitual sin! Addictions to food, alcohol, prescription drugs! Freedom from fear, anxiety, anger, doubts. Knowing the truth and following it enables us to break free from the bondage's sin has had over us! (Some we may not even be aware of at this time.) And this freedom enables us to stand firm on the Rock that is Jesus Christ when the enemy comes at us with more doubts, temptation, etc.  

BUT it gets better, for Jesus didn’t stop there, but continued with an analogy: “Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever” (verse 35).

What was He saying? Simply, if they were to become disciples of Jesus, they would know the truth of their condition and the truth about Him, and that Truth, which is Jesus, Himself (John 14:6) would set them free, and bring them into the family of God.

Just how cool is that?


Barabbas

What Does it Mean to Be Forgiven? {Luke 23}

8:00 PM


What does it mean to be forgiven? Is it something we must earn, or is it freely given?
If someone were to ask you these questions, what would you say? How would you describe forgiveness and how best to attain it?
Did you know that nearly every religion in this world is centered on the idea that forgiveness must be earned; that we must do something, or behave a certain way in order to be forgiven? The one and only exception is Christianity.
The crux of the Christian message is that sin must be punished, and there’s no way people can earn their own forgiveness. Therefore, Jesus had to come to earth, live the perfect life we could not live and die the death we deserved to die so that He could pay the penalty for our sins, and we could gain the forgiveness we so desperately need and could never be good enough to earn.
I don’t think anyone knew the meaning of this better than Barabbas that fateful day we read about in Luke 23 today.
If you studied a map of Jerusalem during that century, you’d discover that Barabbus was placed in a cell far enough away from the crowd before Pilate to hear the roar of the crowd and what they were shouting, but not close enough to hear the words of Pilate. I’m certain his ears must have perked up when he heard, “We want Barabbas!” I like to think he got as close to the window as he could only to hear the crowd next yell, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” At that point he must have felt his fate was sealed. There was no way of escape; he would get exactly what he deserved.
I wonder what he was thinking as he heard the guards footsteps coming closer to his cell knowing they were coming for him…hearing the key in the lock and seeing the door swing open… only to hear the guards tell him he was free to go! Can you imagine the moment Barabbas heard the words, “You’re free to go, for another will die in your place this day.”?
I can’t know for certain, but if I had been the one set free that day, I believe I would have run to see this man who was to die in my place. I would have wanted to be among the crowd watching the three crucified, all the while knowing I should have been the one hanging on that cross. What could have Barabbas been thinking as he heard the crowds mocking and laughing at this man who took his place? And then to hear this man, who had been beaten so badly that he hardly resembled a man at all (Is 52:14) say,” Father, forgive these people, for they don’t know what they are doing?” Who could be so forgiving?
 I also wonder if Barabbas had known the other two men on either side of Jesus. Had they been friends; co-convicts? What did he think when Jesus promised the one, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”? If he did know them, then he, more than anyone, knew that he was the last one who deserved to be in paradise!
We don’t know what happened to Barabbas after he was set free from the punishment of his crimes. We don’t know if he ever gained eternal freedom, but we do know it was possible! Our God is an equal opportunity God and we all are offered the same gift of forgiveness and able to spend eternity in paradise!
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done in the past, you can gain the same forgiveness as the murderer did that day. You can be forgiven and free to forgive others.
When you know you are forgiven, your past can stay in the past and your future can be totally different because you’ve been set free from all the guilt and shame over what you’ve done, because nothing you could ever do is more significant than what Jesus has already done for you on the cross that day. When Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He meant that the full price for our sins had been paid. We only need to ask Him:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.- 1 John 1:9-10
And once we’ve confessed to Him, any accusations you keep hearing won’t be from Him, because he won’t bring up your past again:
“For as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us”- Psalm 103:12
When you know, that you know, that you know, you are forgiven, you’re set free to live a new life with Him for all eternity!

Blessings! 

sue



cry

Cry Freedom

12:00 PM

He had no one to help him become a lawyer or a politician. He was not interested in the army. He had no desire to be a doctor. Therefore, the only obvious career move in those days for a man of his background was to become a clergyman in the Church of England.
He tried to make himself acceptable to God by keeping the whole law, inwardly and outwardly. He got up early. He prayed. He denied himself. He tried to earn forgiveness and peace by increased effort. But he ‘groaned under a heavy yoke’.
On 24 May, 1738 at 8.45am he heard someone reading a book by the great reformer, Martin Luther. He later recalled, ‘While he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given [to] me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.’
John Wesley became one of the greatest preachers ever, preaching over 40,000 sermons centered on freedom through faith in Jesus Christ. He had, as he put it, ‘exchanged the faith of a servant for the faith of a son’.
Jesus Christ is the supreme liberator, and becoming a Christian is the supreme act of liberation. ‘Freedom’ is the word that best sums up the Christian life.

Freedom

Walking in Freedom {Psalm 119:1-79}

12:00 AM




“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” – Psalm 119:45

Hold on! Does it seem to you like the author has been sold a bill of goods here? How can anyone wrap up the words, “freedom” and “commandments” in the same sentence?  Isn’t it common knowledge that following the words of the Bible is enslaving, and freedom comes when we reject it’s commands to follow after our own ways and “what seems right in our own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25)?

Haven’t we all been told our whole lives that keeping the Law of LORD is hard, tiresome and no fun at all? Someone forgot to give this author the memo! BUT, before we dismiss his words completely, perhaps we should see what others had to say on the subject of freedom!

Jesus told those who believed in Him in John 8:31-32, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus went on to say, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”(8:36-38 emphasis mine). But of course, one could argue that this was Jesus speaking, the ultimate Author of God’s Word (2Tim 3:16) and therefore, of course He’d wanted us all to think this way.

James also said, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty (freedom) and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”- Jam 1:22-25 (emphasis mine once more)

And now Paul has something to say about this in his letter to the Galatians, “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.”
 
Hmm…What if true bondage is being driven by our passions, which enslaves because of our sins? What if learning, understanding and following God’s Word is in fact, the light and easy yoke Jesus spoke of here?

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mat 11:28-30

Perhaps, we’ve been the ones sold a bill of goods. Because we have been freed from the penalty of death which comes to all law breakers, we can now link up to the light and easy yoke of Jesus, and learn at His feet, which is exactly the hope of this author of Psalm 119!

Paul knew it,

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Rom 8:1-4

This is a good place to insert a, Hallelujah!
 
I pray you will walk in complete freedom today, faithfully following after Him and His Word, and giving thanks always for all He has done to set you free!

Blessings,

sue

Freedom

Freedom and Liberty {Galatians 5}

12:30 AM

by Lisa Thayer

“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.”  v. 1

Can you get past this verse?  I have read it over and over.  What more do you need to hear? 

Here in the West, freedom is the highest virtue and it is sought after by anyone who considers themselves oppressed.  Our freedom in Christ does not give us a license to do whatever we want however.  Romans 6 tells us that no one is free.  We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.  Those who are slaves to sin cannot free themselves from it, but once we are freed from the penalty and power of sin through the cross, we become a different kind of slave, and in that slavery we find complete peace and true freedom.

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Jesus said in Luke 7:47, “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown.  But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Overflowing love is the natural response to forgiveness and the appropriate result of faith.  But only those who realize the depths of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness that God offers them.  Why would anyone return to the bondage of the law?  Well, we are rebellious.  We refuse to obey God and cling to our old selves.  We hold on to the sins that once bound us to Satan.  Because our new nature still lives in the old fleshly nature, we are still drawn to sin.  It may be harsh when Paul swears at the people preaching circumcision, but sometimes we have to take a stand for the truth.  Jesus told us in John 15:18-19 that the world may hate you for faithfully proclaiming the message – in spite of the obstacles others may put in our way.

Paul reminds us in verses 13-14 that we are called to be free!  By serving one another, humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  When we lose our motivation to love, we become critical of others.  We stop looking for the good in them and only see their faults.  And soon, we lose our unity. 

We all have evil desires.  I know I’d rather not have them, but I can’t ignore them.  In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit, we have to deal with these destructive desires.  We must crucify them.  Some of these desires are obvious sins such as sexual immorality and witchcraft.  But they also include less obvious sins such as selfish ambition, hatred and jealousy.  Those of us who refuse to deal with such sins, reveal we have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life.

Do you desire to have the qualities listed in verses 22-23?  If you do, then you know the Holy Spirit is leading you.  Being led by the Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings.  The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ.  They are the by-products of Christ’s control.  We cannot obtain them by trying to get them without His help. 

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 God is interested in every part of our lives, not just the spiritual part.  As we live by the Holy Spirit’s power, we need to submit every aspect of our lives to God – emotional, physical, social, intellectual and vocational.  Paul says that because we are saved, we should live like it!  The Holy Spirit is the source of your new life, so keep in step with his leading.  Don’t let anything or anyone else determine your values and standards in any area of your life.  I heard it described like the two rails on railroad track.  The train cannot move properly unless both rails are in use.  You are on one side and the Holy Spirit is on the other moving your life forward.  And when you are concentrating on keeping your train on both tracks, you won’t need the approval of others.  We are heirs to the King of Kings and we have the Holy Spirit as the loving guarantee of God’s approval.  Seek to please God and the approval of others won’t seem so important.

Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit.  Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires. 



1 Corinthians 9

Freedom and Discipline {1 Corinthians 9}

12:30 AM


As Christians we already look and act differently than non-Christians.  Two people on their Christian journey, look and act differently.  Paul is teaching these Corinthians and us too, that although we have a right to do whatever we want, we need to, as the old saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”, but that does not mean that we sin to be accepted.  When your focus is on living for Christ, your rights become comparatively unimportant.

Preaching the gospel was Paul’s calling.  That may not be your calling or my calling.  Perhaps yours is hospitality or feeding the hungry, or sharing your musical talent.  We need to use our gifts to glorify God.

The Christian life involves both freedom and discipline.  The goal in Paul’s life was to glorify God and bring people to Christ.  So Paul was free from any philosophical position or material entanglements that might side track him, while he strictly disciplined himself to carry out his goal.  For Paul, both freedom and discipline were important to be used in God’s service.

Paul gave several important principles for ministry:

1)  find common ground with those you contact. 
2)  avoid a know-it-all attitude
3)  make others feel accepted
4)  be sensitive to their needs and concerns
5)  look for opportunities to tell them about Christ. 

Winning the race requires purpose and discipline.  Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work.  And if you are like me, you have discovered that the further into your relationship with Christ, the harder life becomes.  We need to work on self-denial and be prepared, by reading and studying scripture daily.  As we spend more time doing this, we become more equipped to run the race with vigor and stamina.  We cannot merely observe from the grandstand, we need to train diligently because our spiritual progress depends on it.

Self-discipline requires an honest look at our strengths and weaknesses, with emphasis on our weaknesses.  It means building the will to say no when a powerful appetite inside us screams yes.  For example, when you have self-discipline, you can
  1. Say no to friends or situations that will lead you away from Christ
  2. Say no to casual sex, saving intimacy for marriage
  3. Say no to laziness in favor of “can do” and “will do”.

Self-discipline is a long steady course in learning attitudes that do not come naturally, and channeling natural appetites toward God’s purposes.

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Lord, I want to thank you for showing me my own weaknesses recently.  I want to thank you for showing me how to regain strength with You.  You Lord are my sole-source of strength.  You keep me on the straight and narrow path.  You have shown me that sin will never satisfy me or bring me peace.  You have shown me that this world will only laugh in my face.  When I give You my sins, You bring me joy.  It’s an amazing freedom that I pray everyone will enjoy!

1 Corinthians

Stuck In The Mud {1 Cor. 3}

2:16 AM


Because of its command of the trade routes between Asia and Rome, the city of Corinth was quite the melting pot.  People from around the world came to buy and sell their wares.  It was known both for its fierce competition and immorality.  Paul was very frustrated to find that the church he founded years before was still being infected by that same immoral nature of the culture.  And so he begins with, "And I brethren could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.  I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it.  Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly.  For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?" (vs. 1-3)

I'm sure that Paul was hoping to find the faith of the church at Corinth to have matured and grown since His last visit.  He was probably looking forward to being able to share even deeper and more meaningful teachings with them.  Instead he found them still spiritually immature, full of divisions, and living for their fleshly desires.  They were what is known as a carnal Christian.

The word carnal comes from the Greek word "sarkikos" which literally means fleshly.  A carnal Christian is one who has accepted Christ as their Savior, yet still live their lives by the lust of the flesh.  Although they have received salvation, they don't have a personal relationship with The Lord.   They do not grow spiritually mature, including learning to control the desires of the flesh.  All of us have areas in our lives where we live carnally.  Strongholds whose walls need to be torn down and given to God.  We are all works in progress, and for me at least it seems as though it's one step forward and two steps back.   Even Paul himself knew the feeling of the pull of the flesh.  In Romans 7:18-19 he says, "For I know that nothing good dwells in me that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.  For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want."

The battle between the flesh and the spirit is a constant one. It takes strength and perseverance.  It's hard.  And even with the best of intentions, we fail daily.  No wonder many believers seem to get stuck in the mud.  Never moving forward, eventually becoming content with the same scenery day after day.  But Jesus made it clear that being a believer is about more than a "get out of hell free" card.  It's about growth, change, and action.  James reminds us, "If anyone is a hearer of the word and is not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was." (James 1:23-24).

  Our goal as believers is to be constantly maturing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.  To not be content to stay where we are.  To stop spinning our wheels and move forward in our spiritual walk.  And in doing so God promises us victory.  For as Paul assures us in Philippians 1:6, "For I am confident of this very thing, that the He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."  So how about you?  Are you content to sip on milk, or are you craving a thick juicy steak?

Freedom

Neither Do I Condemn You {John 8}

11:30 PM



By Lisa Moore

In John Chapter 8 we find Jesus preaching in the temple, when a group of scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in the act of adultery to Him for judgement.  "...they said to Him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.  Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman; what then do You say?", (vs. 4-5).  Seems reasonable right?  After all adultery is a sin, this woman was clearly guilty, and in Deut. 22:22 and Lev. 20:10 the Bible teaches that the penalty for adultery was death.  But Jesus knew the intentions of these men weren't set on seeing the Law obeyed.  Instead they were setting a trap to see if He would contradict the Law.  "They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him.", (v. 6).  And in response, as Jesus so often did, He used this situation to teach about His liberating love.

Instead of jumping on the bandwagon and grabbing the biggest rock He could find, Jesus replied, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.", (v. 7).  The Bible tells us that one by one, the crowd left leaving only Jesus and the condemned woman.  "Straightening up, Jesus said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?'  She said, 'No one Lord.'  And Jesus said, 'I do not condemn you either.  Go.  From now on sin no more.", (vs. 10-11).  The woman saved by grace, walked away forgiven and set free in Christ. 

There was no condemnation for this woman not because Jesus was ignoring or changing the Law, it was because Jesus Himself is a fulfillment of the Law, providing righteousness through faith.  In Matthew 5:17 Jesus says, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill."  God's true purpose of the Law was never for us to use in judgement and condemnation of one another, but instead to show us our need for a Savior. Only Jesus kept the Law perfectly, and all of its sinful penalties were poured out on Him.  Through His work on the Cross, Jesus provides the path to righteousness and a freedom from condemnation that comes from believing and trusting in Him.

In verses 31:32 Jesus says, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."  He goes on to explain, "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.", (vs. 34-36).  But exactly how does Jesus free us?  This snippet of a study on the book of John by Dr. Charles Stanley explains, and was too good not to share.  Dr. Stanley explains that we are freed through Jesus in the following ways:

1. "Through Jesus' death on the Cross and resurrection, we are freed from the penalty of sin."  Since Jesus paid our sin debt in full, like the adulterous woman we are no longer under condemnation.
2. "We are freed from the power of sin."  We no longer are slaves to our sinful nature, but through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit are free to seek and to know God.

3.  "We are freed from the purpose of sin."  James 1:15 tells us, "When sin is accomplished it brings forth death."  Our sin nature prevents us from obeying God and experiencing His best.  Jesus sets us free to become everything God created us to be for His honor and glory.

4.  "We are freed from the personality of sin."  Because of Jesus we are know longer known for our sins.  Because of Him we are made into new creations.

The adulterous woman is a beautiful reminder of how Jesus shows us grace instead of judgement, and forgiveness instead of condemnation.  Through Him we can be free of our bondage and live a liberated life covered in His love.