Those who know me well know that I am passionate about my support of Israel and the Jewish people. This passion led me to participate in the fifth annual Christians United for Israel Summit in Washington DC this past week. However unlike previous summits, I came away from this one with a deeper compassion and indeed a deeper commitment to stand with Israel and insure that my Jewish brethren are not alone. One of the things that shifted me to the deeper levels was a simple Google search. One of my fellow travelers asked me if I knew what the word "pogroms" meant. I had a vague sense of the word, but I could not with conviction give her a definition. Through the wonders of I Phone technology, I went on a search and found much more than I had anticipated.
The term pogrom means a form of violent riot, a mob attack, either approved or condoned by government or military authorities, directed against a particular group, whether ethnic, religious, or other, and characterized by killings and destruction of their homes, businesses, and religious centers, property. The term was originally used to denote extensive violence against Jews in the Russian Empire. (Wikipedia) However when one continues the research, the actions of pogrom began long before the Russian Empire and in fact date back prior to 167 BC when there were tensions between Hellenism and Judaism. The incidences since that time have been numerous and violent. As time passed, the frequency of the attacks increased until in the 20th century they proliferated and became the most deadly of all.
Why am I visiting history this week? As I dialogued with my Lord about theses atrocities against the apple of His eye, the Jewish people, I began to see deep roots that go back to the first atrocity - a rebellion against the sovereignty and majesty of El Shaddai, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. When Lucifer created the first sin by rebelling against our Lord and taking a third of the angels with him, he was banned from the intimate relationship he had enjoyed until then in the heavens. 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment. Lucifer quickly understood that he had lost access to the heart of the Creator and subsequently lost the ability to impact the Lord's heart. Perhaps in his anger or perhaps in his despair, he resolved to do whatever he could to get revenge. Since he could no longer access God, he determined to attack those that are loved by the Lord - His beloved.
We have a sacred romance being played out all of the time between our lover the Lord and Creator and ourselves - His Beloved. The enemy is going to do whatever he can to disrupt that romance and cause darkness in our lives. With that premise, now consider who the Hebrew people are in His eyes and heart - they are the apple of His eye, in fact His chosen people. Zechariah 2:8-9 For thus says the Lord of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me. (Note: The Hebrew word that is translated as apple actually means the pupil.) Therefore it makes logical sense that the enemy will do whatever he can to destroy these precious people whom God has protected from so much. There is no logical reason why anyone should hate another group of people. Yet the Jewish people have been a target since they were first set apart by the Lord. The sacred romance between the Lord and His chosen people has suffered uncountable struggles in maintaining their identity, but the romance has survived and so has His people.
My purpose in writing about this today is twofold. First we need to recognize the source of this animosity that is leveled towards our Jewish Brethren. It is not our human nature to hate someone, particularly to hate someone who has never harmed us. In fact if you were to study all of the advancements that have come from Israel in the past few decades, you will quickly see that they have done much to help the world in medicine, technology and food production to name just a few. No that is not our human nature. However human nature is manipulated by that great deceiver and truth is distorted to appear very different than it is. We need to come against these misconceptions and be a source of truth in the lives of those around us. We need to study the truth and especially study the Word of God and understand how tightly we are connected to the Jewish people and honor our roots.
The second reason is to understand the sacred romance itself. This is a term that I first heard in reading a book by that title by John Eldredge and Brent Curtis. There is an ongoing romance between our Creator God and us His creation and His beloved. The romance exists for the Jew as well as the Christian and in fact it is there for the non-believers as our Lord continues to woo them and draw them near to Him. He does not love one more than the other, as hard as that may be for some people to believe. I have often heard the expression, "He loves the murderer as much as the victim." The truth is that His heartbreak over the sin of the murderer is probably more painful than witnessing the death of one of His beloveds. It pushes that individual further away from Him.
What can we as believers in the Almighty God and in Jesus Christ do with this situation? We are living in a volatile world in which there is growing animosity once again towards our Jewish Brethren. We can only impact one person at a time. We can only set the truth straight with the one person with whom we are talking. We can only reach out and embrace the Jewish people with whom we come in contact. We can support projects that demonstrate to the world and to our neighborhood that we will not let Israel stand alone and we will in fact stand between them and harm. We can do everything in our power to embrace the sacred romance the Lord has for us and for His chosen people.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Believer's Diet
Diet - nutrition (or lack thereof!) is a frequent topic in most circles these days. With a new focus on obesity in America while the rest of the world starves we are encouraged to make better decisions about what we put into our bodies. The decisions we make have a direct impact on our health, our appearance and indeed our longevity. The same can be said about our spiritual temple as well. Have we given it the same consideration? Recently I came across a scripture that has given me a new perspective about the diet of the believer.
Historically whenever I have thought about the "diet" of the believer, the scriptures discussing milk and meat have come to mind. I have pondered the maturity of the believer and what they either can "digest" or what they choose to digest. However I would like to offer you a new perspective. Isaiah 30:20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, He will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Food and drink are met to satisfy needs of the body ~ nourishment and hydration. Is that difficult to comprehend? That the Lord could intend for something that is hurtful, painful to actually be good for us? Hmmm.... sounds like a loving parent when you think about it....
For many people the concept that anything difficult or painful could come through God's hands is hard to grasp. But we must consider the message that is consistent throughout scripture. Again from Isaiah 14: 24, 26 The Lord of Heaven's Armies has sworn this oath: "It will happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided... I have a plan for the whole earth, a hand of judgment upon all nations." A plan for the whole earth includes all of us that inhabit the earth. We cannot separate ourselves from it ~ or from His plan for us and for the earth as a whole. Therefore even while He is thinking on the grand scale of the entire earth, He simultaneously is thinking about each one of us individually. Because the Word also states: Matthew 10:29 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Then again Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.
What are we to draw from these verses, especially the first one from Isaiah 30? God wants to nurture us, grow us, guide us into the fullness of everything that He has planned for our lives. However He also fully knows the vulnerabilities that exist in each one of us from our flesh and soul components. Once saved, we are born again, but only our spirit is transformed and regenerated. The other two parts of us play catch up all of our earthly lives. God wants to offer us as much assistance as possible while still allowing our free will to be exercised. After all it is in loving Him freely that we love Him fully. Still there are times when He alters our diet to bring us back into "healthy living".
Think about the parallel again to our physical diet. When we overload on something that is not good for us, we usually pay consequences. For example, eat too much sugary or fatty foods and undoubtedly the next day (or even later that night) you will feel bloated, lethargic or a variety of other symptoms. It will take a while of disciplined eating to bring balance back into your system. Anything that is taken in excess will do something to throw you off balance. The very same principles function in our spiritual lives. The difference is that God really does care about what happens to us and He will allow a different diet for a season in order to bring our spiritual health back in balance.
Now before anyone becomes offended I am not suggesting that all trials and tribulations come as a result of being out of balance. However I do believe that God uses all trials and tribulations to make us stronger and better equipped to handle a new level of responsibility in the kingdom. I have experienced adversity and suffering since I accepted the Lord as my savior over 20 years ago. However I choose to regard these experiences as His equipping me. I fully acknowledge that some of these experiences came as a result of bad choices I made. At the same time, I can look at many circumstances in my life and KNOW that the outcomes could have been significantly worse than they were. In retrospect I know God had His hand on me protecting me even in the midst of those times. My teacher was present and I was "seeing" Him with my own eyes.
Adversity for food and suffering for drink... if we can perceive the trials and tribulations that come our way as just that, I venture to say that we will be open to learning much more from each situation than previously. Seeking God's hand in everything means that there is some good there somewhere. For God is inherently good, so very good. Therefore if something that the world perceives as bad is happening to us, let us find God in the middle of it and recognize Him as Teacher. Teach me, Lord. What am I to learn from this situation? Recently very dear friends experienced a tragedy and the Lord continues to encourage me to tell them, "Do not ask Why, but instead ask Me What. Ask Me, "What do You want me to do with this situation, Lord?" And if you will sincerely listen, I will give you an answer that will take you deeper with Me and indeed take you to the next level in your relationship with Me." Be encouraged. Do not let adversity and suffering take you away from Him, but rather allow those things to draw you near to Him as He satisfies your hunger and thirst. Remember, God is good; He is so good.
Historically whenever I have thought about the "diet" of the believer, the scriptures discussing milk and meat have come to mind. I have pondered the maturity of the believer and what they either can "digest" or what they choose to digest. However I would like to offer you a new perspective. Isaiah 30:20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, He will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. Food and drink are met to satisfy needs of the body ~ nourishment and hydration. Is that difficult to comprehend? That the Lord could intend for something that is hurtful, painful to actually be good for us? Hmmm.... sounds like a loving parent when you think about it....
For many people the concept that anything difficult or painful could come through God's hands is hard to grasp. But we must consider the message that is consistent throughout scripture. Again from Isaiah 14: 24, 26 The Lord of Heaven's Armies has sworn this oath: "It will happen as I have planned. It will be as I have decided... I have a plan for the whole earth, a hand of judgment upon all nations." A plan for the whole earth includes all of us that inhabit the earth. We cannot separate ourselves from it ~ or from His plan for us and for the earth as a whole. Therefore even while He is thinking on the grand scale of the entire earth, He simultaneously is thinking about each one of us individually. Because the Word also states: Matthew 10:29 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Then again Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.
What are we to draw from these verses, especially the first one from Isaiah 30? God wants to nurture us, grow us, guide us into the fullness of everything that He has planned for our lives. However He also fully knows the vulnerabilities that exist in each one of us from our flesh and soul components. Once saved, we are born again, but only our spirit is transformed and regenerated. The other two parts of us play catch up all of our earthly lives. God wants to offer us as much assistance as possible while still allowing our free will to be exercised. After all it is in loving Him freely that we love Him fully. Still there are times when He alters our diet to bring us back into "healthy living".
Think about the parallel again to our physical diet. When we overload on something that is not good for us, we usually pay consequences. For example, eat too much sugary or fatty foods and undoubtedly the next day (or even later that night) you will feel bloated, lethargic or a variety of other symptoms. It will take a while of disciplined eating to bring balance back into your system. Anything that is taken in excess will do something to throw you off balance. The very same principles function in our spiritual lives. The difference is that God really does care about what happens to us and He will allow a different diet for a season in order to bring our spiritual health back in balance.
Now before anyone becomes offended I am not suggesting that all trials and tribulations come as a result of being out of balance. However I do believe that God uses all trials and tribulations to make us stronger and better equipped to handle a new level of responsibility in the kingdom. I have experienced adversity and suffering since I accepted the Lord as my savior over 20 years ago. However I choose to regard these experiences as His equipping me. I fully acknowledge that some of these experiences came as a result of bad choices I made. At the same time, I can look at many circumstances in my life and KNOW that the outcomes could have been significantly worse than they were. In retrospect I know God had His hand on me protecting me even in the midst of those times. My teacher was present and I was "seeing" Him with my own eyes.
Adversity for food and suffering for drink... if we can perceive the trials and tribulations that come our way as just that, I venture to say that we will be open to learning much more from each situation than previously. Seeking God's hand in everything means that there is some good there somewhere. For God is inherently good, so very good. Therefore if something that the world perceives as bad is happening to us, let us find God in the middle of it and recognize Him as Teacher. Teach me, Lord. What am I to learn from this situation? Recently very dear friends experienced a tragedy and the Lord continues to encourage me to tell them, "Do not ask Why, but instead ask Me What. Ask Me, "What do You want me to do with this situation, Lord?" And if you will sincerely listen, I will give you an answer that will take you deeper with Me and indeed take you to the next level in your relationship with Me." Be encouraged. Do not let adversity and suffering take you away from Him, but rather allow those things to draw you near to Him as He satisfies your hunger and thirst. Remember, God is good; He is so good.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Intimacy
Intimacy is such a critical part of any relationship. Now don't get weird on me; even friends experience intimacy. The definition of intimate according to Webster's is: familiar, close, closely united or associated; personal, private; confidant, comrade. No relationship will grow in depth and complexity if you do not incorporate intimacy as a component of it. Think about the many different relationships you have at work, in church, in your neighborhood. Chances are that very few of those relationships could be classified as intimate. Why? Because you do not share the inner layers of yourself with those people. You are cordial, respectful, polite, but certainly not intimate. Now think about your closest friends, your spouse if you have one, your family. They know how you think; they know your quirks; they are there for you when the going gets ridiculous. That is intimacy. Question of the day: are you intimate with God?
Last weekend I was blessed beyond description through an opportunity to oversee a 24 hour prayer vigil at our church. This time was not pre-designed by leadership. Their heart was to do whatever God wanted to do. God loves that kind of freedom in operating in our lives. His vision of that 24 hour period was to take His Beloveds deeper than they have been in a long time. Personal agendas were dropped as soon as folks walked through the doorway into the sanctuary set up for prayer. An atmosphere of tangible intimacy was felt by each participant. However the greatest beneficiary of this gift from Him was me. I was in His presence for the full 24 hours plus some. I left that time feeling so energized and refreshed that it truly amazed me. I knew He is capable of anything, but feeling totally at rest without physical rest??? Now that is cool!
Intimacy with Him does not require you to set aside 24 hours and shut out the rest of the world. It was an incredible, amazing blessing for me to have both the opportunity and the time to do that. Intimacy does require though that you do make an effort to get alone with Him for any period of time. If you only have 15 minutes, then be focused on giving Him your undivided attention during that time. Remember the oft abused saying, it is not the quantity but the quality that counts? Many parents used that as an excuse to continue to justify the choices they were making in life which put their kids on the back burner, deferring instead to social engagements, career pursuit, or just personal interests. Those relationships suffer permanent damage that is very difficult to reverse. When someone you love consistently chooses something or someone else over you, a wound in the heart grows deeper over time.
What makes us think that God is any different? Do you think that just because He is God that nothing bothers Him? That He has no emotions? How can that be if we were made in His image? Listen to this passage from Song of Solomon 4:9-10 You have ravished my heart, my treasure, my bride. I am overcome by one glance of your eyes, by a single bead of your necklace. How sweet is your love, my treasure, my bride! How much better it is than wine! Your perfume is more fragrant than the richest of spices. Does that sound like an emotionless God to you? Throughout scripture, we read of God's delight, His anger, His love, His pride in His children, His heart for His Chosen People. Knowing all of that how can we possibly think that He does not desire intimacy with us? James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Can you hear Him calling out to you as you seek His face?
One concept that He made very clear to me as I prepared our sanctuary for the vigil was His unconditional love. He was very explicit that the Bridal Chamber came first. As soon as anyone entered the sanctuary the first stop was the Bridal Chamber. The Lord said, "My love is unconditional. If someone does not experience my love first, then there will be no desire to repent, to exalt me, to arise as my warrior and to persevere. Let them soak in my love first. Have them languish with me." He would not even let me put chairs in the bridal chamber just pillows. He wanted more than anything for His Beloveds to just languish in His love. No petitions, no performances, just languish and soak in His love. Are you able to do that?
There are two aspects to this concept. First understand that your strength and growth comes out of this time of intimacy, not out of your performance as a member of the Body of Christ. However the second aspect is critical to the harvest of souls for the church. A non-believer must experience the love of God in order to want to believe in Him and receive eternal life. Why would anyone want to change from their current lifestyle and belief system of the world, unless there is a promise of something unattainable otherwise? We can't beat somebody into submission to become a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. God does not want forced love. He wants free love whereby He is chosen over other lovers i.e. the world and all that it offers. Love freely given and freely received is the genuine article. Do you really want someone in your life who is forced to express love to you? You immediately know that it is superficial and only expressed for survival purposes. Sounds like prison camp to me. Say whatever you have to to survive.
When we win others over to Christ it is because they see something in our lives that they desperately want. Is the life you are leading portraying that message to those around you? Remember that there is always somebody watching you and listening to what you say. Luke 6:4-5 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. What is our life reflecting from our heart? Only you can answer that question. However consider this: if you are truly being intimate with God on a consistent basis, how can your heart not be filled with His love? He transforms us if we allow Him access. Access requires intimacy. The deepest, darkest secrets of our mind and heart become accessible to Him. He will heal those deep wounds. He will fill the darkest void with light. Then you can move into the world which is our field of ministry and spread His love all around.
Last weekend I was blessed beyond description through an opportunity to oversee a 24 hour prayer vigil at our church. This time was not pre-designed by leadership. Their heart was to do whatever God wanted to do. God loves that kind of freedom in operating in our lives. His vision of that 24 hour period was to take His Beloveds deeper than they have been in a long time. Personal agendas were dropped as soon as folks walked through the doorway into the sanctuary set up for prayer. An atmosphere of tangible intimacy was felt by each participant. However the greatest beneficiary of this gift from Him was me. I was in His presence for the full 24 hours plus some. I left that time feeling so energized and refreshed that it truly amazed me. I knew He is capable of anything, but feeling totally at rest without physical rest??? Now that is cool!
Intimacy with Him does not require you to set aside 24 hours and shut out the rest of the world. It was an incredible, amazing blessing for me to have both the opportunity and the time to do that. Intimacy does require though that you do make an effort to get alone with Him for any period of time. If you only have 15 minutes, then be focused on giving Him your undivided attention during that time. Remember the oft abused saying, it is not the quantity but the quality that counts? Many parents used that as an excuse to continue to justify the choices they were making in life which put their kids on the back burner, deferring instead to social engagements, career pursuit, or just personal interests. Those relationships suffer permanent damage that is very difficult to reverse. When someone you love consistently chooses something or someone else over you, a wound in the heart grows deeper over time.
What makes us think that God is any different? Do you think that just because He is God that nothing bothers Him? That He has no emotions? How can that be if we were made in His image? Listen to this passage from Song of Solomon 4:9-10 You have ravished my heart, my treasure, my bride. I am overcome by one glance of your eyes, by a single bead of your necklace. How sweet is your love, my treasure, my bride! How much better it is than wine! Your perfume is more fragrant than the richest of spices. Does that sound like an emotionless God to you? Throughout scripture, we read of God's delight, His anger, His love, His pride in His children, His heart for His Chosen People. Knowing all of that how can we possibly think that He does not desire intimacy with us? James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Can you hear Him calling out to you as you seek His face?
One concept that He made very clear to me as I prepared our sanctuary for the vigil was His unconditional love. He was very explicit that the Bridal Chamber came first. As soon as anyone entered the sanctuary the first stop was the Bridal Chamber. The Lord said, "My love is unconditional. If someone does not experience my love first, then there will be no desire to repent, to exalt me, to arise as my warrior and to persevere. Let them soak in my love first. Have them languish with me." He would not even let me put chairs in the bridal chamber just pillows. He wanted more than anything for His Beloveds to just languish in His love. No petitions, no performances, just languish and soak in His love. Are you able to do that?
There are two aspects to this concept. First understand that your strength and growth comes out of this time of intimacy, not out of your performance as a member of the Body of Christ. However the second aspect is critical to the harvest of souls for the church. A non-believer must experience the love of God in order to want to believe in Him and receive eternal life. Why would anyone want to change from their current lifestyle and belief system of the world, unless there is a promise of something unattainable otherwise? We can't beat somebody into submission to become a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. God does not want forced love. He wants free love whereby He is chosen over other lovers i.e. the world and all that it offers. Love freely given and freely received is the genuine article. Do you really want someone in your life who is forced to express love to you? You immediately know that it is superficial and only expressed for survival purposes. Sounds like prison camp to me. Say whatever you have to to survive.
When we win others over to Christ it is because they see something in our lives that they desperately want. Is the life you are leading portraying that message to those around you? Remember that there is always somebody watching you and listening to what you say. Luke 6:4-5 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. What is our life reflecting from our heart? Only you can answer that question. However consider this: if you are truly being intimate with God on a consistent basis, how can your heart not be filled with His love? He transforms us if we allow Him access. Access requires intimacy. The deepest, darkest secrets of our mind and heart become accessible to Him. He will heal those deep wounds. He will fill the darkest void with light. Then you can move into the world which is our field of ministry and spread His love all around.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Slavery or Freedom?
God's timing is always perfect - have you noticed? July 3rd one of my devotional readings was the very small book of Philemon. If you are not familiar with it, it is a short letter from Paul to a slave owner named Philemon about a runaway slave named Onesimus. It is well worth the read. July 4th is of course our celebration of Independence Day. What is that you said? I am confused about slavery and Independence Day? Not if you are studying our history. I am grateful to a very popular personality who has been doing a series on our Founding Fathers every Friday. (Glen Beck) The very words freedom and equality for all are a theme throughout the documents of our founding. Those concepts however were found in the New Testament long before 1776.
Galatians 3:28; 4:4-7 3:28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians -- you are one in Christ Jesus. 4:4-7 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you. Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves great wealth for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. We are equal in God's eyes. We are his sons and daughters. We are free and heirs to all that He has in store for us, but do we live our lives that way?
This Independence Day has been more meaningful to me than most due greatly to the rumblings that are being heard throughout this great land. Things that I have always taken for granted are in perilous danger of disappearing. I took for granted that the United States would always honor God's command that we stand with Israel and bless them. Now I am part of a movement that will protect my Jewish brethren when Antisemitism runs rampant in America. I once believed that Congress represented the people, now I am alarmed at how many of the members of Congress serve themselves. The states' ability to govern themselves because they can be more responsive to their citizens' needs has clearly been undermined in the past year. My greatest concern is that my freedom to worship and speak about my faith and my God is being curtailed bit by bit. Freedom? Only if we walk in it and protect it.
My freedom that was bought by the blood of Jesus Christ is mine if I choose to embrace it, walk in it and protect it. The other side of that coin is that I can claim freedom but walk in slavery to all that I supposedly left behind when I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. Many of us are guilty of this. I have truly been awakened these past few days as I consider all that freedom costs when it has been bought by another's sacrifice. Jesus paid the price for us, once and for all at the Cross, but we can trash that sacrifice by the choices we make everyday. When we choose position, acceptance, material gain, popularity, success over carrying our cross as a follower of Christ, we show utter disdain for His sacrifice. Likewise when we trash the heritage of our country, paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of our Founding Fathers and the men and women following them over the centuries, we show utter disregard for this precious commodity called freedom.
My heart is torn by the times I have acted as a slave when Christ made me free. I fall prostrate before the heavenly throne as even today, I realize that there are too many times I do not walk in the freedom that has been won for me by blood. 2 Peter 2:19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. Peter is discussing false teachers in this letter and his passion is fueled by his imprisonment and impending execution. Consider what your final letter would be to everyone that has been entrusted to you by the Lord. However the last sentence is the one that is so powerful. No matter how much someone had paid for our freedom, we are still a slave to whatever (note not whoever) controls us. Therefore my question to myself - daily - is what am I allowing to control me if it is not the will of God in every way?
These are indeed tumultuous times in which we are living. Our freedom is being challenged on every front and too many of us are sitting quietly and slowly being chained tighter and tighter. However, the foundation of our freedom begins with that which Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price. If we do not begin right there and CHOOSE to honor Him and the laws which He gave us in Holy Scripture, then we are doomed. There is no way except down - literally. We have a choice in our lives, in our churches, in our communities to live out the true gospel or some whitewashed form of religion that undermines the very freedoms Christ won for us. We are called to be radical for Christ, not conformist who are afraid of being socially outcast if they do as Christ did. I need to change. I must change if I desire to be called a disciple of Jesus Christ. My life must reflect that I will stand until I die for the One that I call my Lord.
Galatians 3:28; 4:4-7 3:28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians -- you are one in Christ Jesus. 4:4-7 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you. Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves great wealth for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. We are equal in God's eyes. We are his sons and daughters. We are free and heirs to all that He has in store for us, but do we live our lives that way?
This Independence Day has been more meaningful to me than most due greatly to the rumblings that are being heard throughout this great land. Things that I have always taken for granted are in perilous danger of disappearing. I took for granted that the United States would always honor God's command that we stand with Israel and bless them. Now I am part of a movement that will protect my Jewish brethren when Antisemitism runs rampant in America. I once believed that Congress represented the people, now I am alarmed at how many of the members of Congress serve themselves. The states' ability to govern themselves because they can be more responsive to their citizens' needs has clearly been undermined in the past year. My greatest concern is that my freedom to worship and speak about my faith and my God is being curtailed bit by bit. Freedom? Only if we walk in it and protect it.
My freedom that was bought by the blood of Jesus Christ is mine if I choose to embrace it, walk in it and protect it. The other side of that coin is that I can claim freedom but walk in slavery to all that I supposedly left behind when I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. Many of us are guilty of this. I have truly been awakened these past few days as I consider all that freedom costs when it has been bought by another's sacrifice. Jesus paid the price for us, once and for all at the Cross, but we can trash that sacrifice by the choices we make everyday. When we choose position, acceptance, material gain, popularity, success over carrying our cross as a follower of Christ, we show utter disdain for His sacrifice. Likewise when we trash the heritage of our country, paid for with the blood, sweat and tears of our Founding Fathers and the men and women following them over the centuries, we show utter disregard for this precious commodity called freedom.
My heart is torn by the times I have acted as a slave when Christ made me free. I fall prostrate before the heavenly throne as even today, I realize that there are too many times I do not walk in the freedom that has been won for me by blood. 2 Peter 2:19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. Peter is discussing false teachers in this letter and his passion is fueled by his imprisonment and impending execution. Consider what your final letter would be to everyone that has been entrusted to you by the Lord. However the last sentence is the one that is so powerful. No matter how much someone had paid for our freedom, we are still a slave to whatever (note not whoever) controls us. Therefore my question to myself - daily - is what am I allowing to control me if it is not the will of God in every way?
These are indeed tumultuous times in which we are living. Our freedom is being challenged on every front and too many of us are sitting quietly and slowly being chained tighter and tighter. However, the foundation of our freedom begins with that which Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price. If we do not begin right there and CHOOSE to honor Him and the laws which He gave us in Holy Scripture, then we are doomed. There is no way except down - literally. We have a choice in our lives, in our churches, in our communities to live out the true gospel or some whitewashed form of religion that undermines the very freedoms Christ won for us. We are called to be radical for Christ, not conformist who are afraid of being socially outcast if they do as Christ did. I need to change. I must change if I desire to be called a disciple of Jesus Christ. My life must reflect that I will stand until I die for the One that I call my Lord.
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