July 5, 2023

 

Free in Christ

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

 

We are free to love Jesus. We are free to live according to His Word. We are free to love others and to worship and to grow more Christ-like. We are NOT free to condemn those who are different. We are NOT free to judge what we don’t understand and to choose who we think is worthy of His love and a place in Heaven.

 

We Christians are really good at pointing fingers. We stand up and talk about how we’ve prayed and come to the conclusion that certain people are condemned. We pray and justify our own black hearts not realizing that we have condemned ourselves.

 

My grandmother truly believed that the Bible said whites are the superior race. The Bible doesn’t say that but no one could ever convince her otherwise. I tried. I see the same thing happening today with other issues and it breaks my heart. Haven’t we learned anything?

 

Jesus doesn’t need you or I to help Him judge people. In fact, He told us we would be judged the same way we judge others. No excuses. So what did Jesus tell us to do? Love people. Be good to our enemies. Really pray for people.

 

Here’s the thing about prayer: We don’t have to know what to pray for. We don’t need to tell Jesus what someone else should do or how they need to behave or repent or whatever else we’ve decided is their issue. He knows what all of us needs. He alone truly knows the heart of each individual.

 

Don’t let anyone cast judgement on you from a biblical standpoint. No one but Jesus gets to tell you what the Bible really says and what it doesn’t. If a “Christian” gets on his high-horse and starts pointing fingers, point them right back. Odds are pretty good that he doesn’t know what the Bible actually says.

 

The Bible was never intended to be used as a weapon but rather as a tool to help us know God and follow Him. Don’t allow others to pull out verses or words and use them as weapons against you or anyone else. Christ set you free from the bondage caused by others. You believe and trust Him to handle the rest.

November 10, 2018

Your Choice

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

We are blessed to live in this country. We are blessed by the many freedoms we enjoy. We have the freedom to worship as we choose. We have the freedom to speak freely. Do we use that freedom wisely?

I spent the early years of my career as a journalist. That’s right. A newspaper reporter. In Mass Communications classes, we studied how tabloids can use words to manipulate the truth. It seemed so clear. In reality, it wasn’t. That’s why so many people bought tabloids filled with lies that were bolstered by tidbits of truth.

It breaks my heart to see that happening in such a widespread way. I know. People love it. They buy into the lies. In our deepest parts, we love gossip and the drama that it brings. But it is just so wrong.

The press corps has become filled with people who are out to make a name for themselves. They will report almost anything just because they can. It’s all about being first rather than being right. It’s that mob mentality that turns frenzied at the first sight of its victim.

President Trump fuels that. He’s good at it. He always has been. Except this isn’t reality television where ratings determine your success. This is real life, real people, real events. It’s not okay to use your power and platform to condemn at random and to spread lies when it’s convenient.

Christ died to set us free so that we could live like Him, not so that we could implode in a field of lies. We don’t get to pick and choose which parts of the Bible we believe. Either you love Jesus as He is or you don’t.

That means loving people, including people you disagree with. That means tempering your words, being kind and forgiving and merciful. It means standing up for what’s right, even if it steps on your own political toes. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about Jesus. When did we lose sight of that?

It’s hard these days to determine fact from fiction. There are some really good reporters out there who deserve respect from everyone. They try hard to get the story right. That means stepping on toes. That means upsetting everyone. Because when you’re walking that line of truth, no one is happy with you.

It would be far easier to gather a bunch of folks together, call them reporters or news anchors, throw out a few “facts” and let them hash out their opinions. Label it news and watch the ratings skyrocket. Most folks don’t bother to check out what they’re hearing or reading to make sure it’s truth. I suppose if something is said enough times people stop doubting its validity.

Christ didn’t set us free to spread lies and hate. Every time we watch a “news” channel that does that, we are betraying Him. Every time we “share” something without making sure it’s true, we betray Jesus. We spread hate and discord because the drama feels good. Otherwise, why would we bother to listen or read something that upsets us?

Lies beget lies. Hate begets hate. Jesus? Well, Jesus is all about love. You have the freedom to choose who you will follow. Will it be the world with all it’s anger and hate? Or will it be Jesus, who beckons us to love and care for others? Your choice. I pray you choose wisely.

July 4, 2018

Freedom

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

What weighs you down today? What burdens are you carrying? What sin can’t you get past – either your own or someone else’s? What fear holds you back from God’s calling?

Christ came to set us free. But we have a choice. Do we give it all to Him and walk away from the yoke of slavery? Do we choose to live as free people?

We think of slavery as something horrible that happened back in the 1800s. It was. We think of being bound by drugs or drink or a job. But slavery? Really? In 2018? In the United States?

We consider ourselves to be free people. And, we are. Many have sacrificed their lives to allow us the freedom to bicker and point fingers. Many families have spent way too much time apart so that we could have the freedom to vote – even though most of us don’t. Do we ever consider the cost of our freedom?

Jesus Christ died a horrific death on a cross. He died for you and He died for me. Do you ever consider the cost of your freedom? Do you take it for granted? Can you even grasp the agony? Can you see the nails, the blood? Do you hear the mockers? Can you sense the fear in His followers?

Freedom comes with a cost, whether it is our freedom to live in this wonderful country or the freedom to choose Jesus, to choose forgiveness, to stand before God as blameless.

Jesus didn’t die so that we would remain slaves. He died so we could receive mercy, grace, forgiveness. So why do we wallow in it? Why do we cling to a past we can’t change? Why do we refuse to forgive ourselves and others? Why do we continue to live in bondage?

The world will tell us how we should live. It tells us what our purpose should be. It tells us what to value, what’s important, how to spend our day. The world doesn’t know Christ.

We are foreigners traveling to our forever home. We miss that point sometimes. We’re so busy living our “free” lives that we don’t realize we’re really slaves to a world that isn’t our home. We’ve become so protective of what we think is ours, that we forget we’re only caretakers of God’s possessions for a short time.

We are blessed this Fourth of July. We can watch fireworks and barbeque with friends. We can sleep late and go to the beach or mountains. We can live in relative certainty that we won’t wake up as captives in a foreign land. We are privileged. But are we grateful?

Never forget that we live in a free country because of the soldiers who protect us, fight for us, defend us and, sometimes, die for us. And never forget that Jesus Christ died and rose three days later to free our souls from death and eternal separation from God. On this day of celebration, take a moment to consider all that others have done for us and be grateful.

June 18, 2018

Surrender Your Stubbornness

But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

 – Jeremiah 7:24

It was the story of Molly the Mule. Molly wouldn’t obey anyone until the day she tore her lead loose and ended up tangled in barbed wire. She had to lay there patiently as the wire was cut away from her, the blood was rinsed from her body and all her wounds received ointment. Molly changed when she realized her people were only trying to help her. She gave up her stubbornness and became obedient.

God’s people would eventually learn the same lesson. Again. We’re no different. God asks us to obey and we do until we get overconfident in our own abilities. Then we slowly drift toward doing things our way instead of His. When our lives are in shambles, we turn to God again and repeat the process.

Why are we so stubborn? Why won’t we listen to the One who knows what is best for us, the One who loves us unconditionally? Why must we continually make bad choices that go against His best for our lives?

My youngest dog had a really bad day. He got into trouble again and again. It’s like he couldn’t help himself. Destroying something was awful. Trying to do it again was infuriating. But when he didn’t come when he was called? That’s scary. He doesn’t see the danger. His coming when I call, whether he wants to or not, can determine whether he remains safe or not.

That’s how it is with us. God wants to keep us safe and happy. But we continually make bad choices and refuse to honor Him with our lives. We let things slide. We make excuses. We all do. And we pay consequences we never expected for what seemed like simple choices that wouldn’t make a difference.

Life has a way of snowballing, doesn’t it? One small choice leads to another larger choice. My little fellow wasn’t thinking about getting hurt. He wasn’t thinking about danger. He simply wanted to run and play where he wanted to run and play. I knew that one encounter with a new calf could result in serious injury. Mama cows, especially those with newborns, are extremely protective. He would only want to play with the new calf but mama cow wouldn’t see it that way.

That’s how we are. We only want to play. And have fun. What’s one night out in a bar with our co-workers? What does it matter if I fudge a little on my taxes or text while I’m driving? Surely no one cares if I miss church to go to the beach or a ballgame. Let someone else volunteer, and tithe, and visit the elderly or sick.

Except we aren’t here to serve ourselves. We are here to do God’s will and to serve others so that He might be glorified through us. In turn, we end up happier and more satisfied when we’re focused on God and others instead of ourselves.

It’s hard to relinquish our stubborn need to control. It’s not so easy to step aside and put others before ourselves. And it surely doesn’t feel great when God asks us to do something we really don’t want to do. Do it anyway.

As Molly the Mule learned, true freedom comes when we surrender control and let God lead us.

May 28, 2018

Remember the Cost

“I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me.”

– 2 Samuel 1:26a

David and Jonathan were like brothers. They had remained loyal to one another despite Saul’s attempts on David’s life. They had remained friends even though God had anointed David to be the next king, rather than Jonathan who was King Saul’s son. Only death could truly separate the friends.

War has always taken its devastating toll. That was the case here. Both King Saul and his son Jonathan were killed in battle. It was a very real cost of war but that didn’t ease the broken hearts of those left behind.

Today is Memorial Day. It isn’t a day to barbecue with friends, hang out at the beach or laze around with a good book. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of that. It’s just that it misses the point.

This is the day we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. It’s the day we remember those who never came home. We honor them and the families who were left with a gaping hole in their hearts. It is a somber day of remembrance.

In recent years some have tried to turn this day into a celebration of all veterans and those in active military service. That was never what was intended. I am grateful to those veterans and to those who are currently serving our country in the Armed Forces. But I truly hope and pray that their families won’t ever need to remember them on this day.

There are plenty of days to remember those who live. There is Veterans Day. There is Independence Day. There are lots of accolades and times to say “Thank You!” Today is for those who aren’t here with us anymore. Today is for those who died too soon.

The Vietnam Memorial stands as a stark reminder, the names etched in stone. Do you know someone whose name is on that monument? Yeah. Me too. It changes things, doesn’t it? Because none of those hero stories can ever replace the one who didn’t come home.

God understands our grief. He sees our tears. He stands with us as we remember, as we mourn, as we take those first steps alone. God knows how shattered hearts feel. Remember, He gave His Son so that we could live.

The cemetery just down the road will have a ceremony today. Flags will dot graves throughout the cemetery. One will rest beside my cousin, a young man who never had the chance to grow old. This day was special to his Dad, who was also a serviceman. It was the one day out of the year that everyone remembered what he had lost.

I don’t know what your plans are today, but I sure hope you take time to remember the cost of living in a free country. Please say a prayer for those who still grieve because, no matter what you may have been told, there’s no time limit on grief. Honor what they’ve lost by remembering what this day is all about.

May 15, 2018

Let It Go

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

– Hebrews 12:15

Bitterness makes an awful companion. It will cloud your thinking, harden your heart, give the devil a foothold into a life dedicated to God.

The dictionary defines bitterness as anger and disappointment at being treated unfairly. It is also resentment. It is a small kernel that, if not dealt with, will grow into an all-consuming thing that directs the paths of our lives to a place we never intended to go.

In the Christian faith, we talk a lot about forgiveness. We forgive not because the other person deserves it but because God forgives us. We forgive because of what Jesus did for us, dying a cruel, merciless death, so that we would be washed white by His blood.

We don’t deserve mercy. None of us deserve forgiveness. But it’s what God gives us anyway when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. That kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? When we complain about the sins of others, about the unfairness of it all, we are condemning ourselves.

I can do all things through Christ. That’s what the Bible tells me. But I am prone to give it to God, then take it back again and again. How about you? Every time we replay the offense over in our minds, we are filling our hearts with anger and bitterness yet again.

Don’t sin in your anger. That’s another jewel from the Bible. Anger causes us to be people of hate rather than people who reflect God’s love to the world. We can’t get past old wounds because we’re too focused on the very real hurt.

Forgiveness doesn’t make it all okay. Nor does forgiveness mean you should always invite those people back into your life. It took me a while to understand that. Some people simply aren’t safe to be around. One of those Pinterest posts reminds us that if God removes someone from your life, don’t chase after them. God did it for a reason.

Letting go can be hard. We want to defend ourselves. We want revenge. We want that lost dream restored. Walk away. Cleanse your soul of the filth that situation caused and move forward toward God’s calling.

Bitterness will only destroy you and cause you to sin repeatedly against God. Let it go. You are called to walk in freedom from the sins of the past. That happens one step at a time.

April 20, 2018

Embrace Sabbath Rest

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

– Hebrews 4:9-11

It’s a study I need. Desperately. It’s titled Breathe and it’s led by Priscilla Shirer. What’s the topic? Sabbath rest. Or, maybe I should just say rest. It’s about God giving us permission to rest.

Wow. There is power in that. Freedom. We know about Sunday. We talk about the day of rest. We just don’t think it applies to us. We haven’t earned a rest. We have too much to do. And don’t forget the kids. Their activities never cease, even on Sunday.

I’m not sure where I acquired the notion that it’s not okay to rest. Maybe it came from my parents, who questioned me pointedly if I sat down for even a moment to rest. I was expected to always be working, to always be serving, to always be doing their bidding. Few people realized how long my days were.

Now my parents are gone but their voices linger in my head. I don’t want to be lazy. I can’t be lazy. There are too many animals to tend, a farm to manage, and an income to earn. But I am tired. And I feel like I can’t sit down with a book or magazine and simply rest. Even on Sunday.

How about you? When do you rest? I know there are people who veg out in front of the television. We always hear about those people. I don’t personally know any of them. The people I know are too busy juggling life’s demands to sit down and do nothing, even for a short period of time.

I look at our children and wonder if they will ever understand the concept of rest or Sabbath. They attend school five days each week. They also have ball practice or dance or other after school activities. Even Sunday is now filled with dance competitions or ball tournaments.

I asked one mom, “When do they rest?” She looked at me as though I’d lost my mind. “Oh, they enjoy it,” she assured me.

Seriously? How can they not be tired? They never have down time to simply play and enjoy being a child.

It’s a vicious cycle. And we don’t want to set boundaries, for them or for us, because what would people think? Do we truly believe that the more we do the better people we become? Do we think we have to fill every waking moment with some activity?

I get it. I do. I’m there with you. I’ve only made it through one week of this study and my eyes have opened. It doesn’t mean I’ve changed my behavior. That’s a habit that will take some time to reprogram. But it really does reveal to me how destructive being busy all the time can be.

It also tells me that God never intended for any of us to be overworked and stressed all the time. He created Sabbath for us to rest and recharge. God modeled that behavior for us. He gave us the freedom to do nothing for a time. We have His permission. It’s time to embrace rest, to allow ourselves to be filled up again so that we might continue the work God has called us to do.

June 6, 2016

God’s Love Frees Us

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. -- 1 John 4:16

The words were proudly honest. She didn’t know God loved her. She couldn’t grasp it. Her past wouldn’t let her. Satan’s lies blocked this truth.

I didn’t know what to say. It was a classroom setting and comments were everywhere. But her truth explained so much. All of a sudden her life made sense. I’d been there.

Self-destruction is a horrible thing. It’s roots run deep, planted in childhood for both of us. When you are told over and over again that you aren’t worthy, that you aren’t loved, that you aren’t smart or capable or good, then you believe it. Because that’s what children do. They believe the lies adults tell them.

God’s love releases that. It reveals those lies and tells us a different story. It’s not about us. It’s not about what has been or what will be. It’s about a God who loves us because He is love. We can’t quite grasp that deep, unwavering love.

But it is in the grasping that we are set free. When we fully realize and accept this wondrous gift, we have no need to destroy ourselves so that we turn into truth the lies the enemy told. We can stand in the light and know that wherever we are we are loved and cherished. We are enough.

This sweet woman has a history. Don’t we all. It’s isn’t an awful one but to her it is. She sees the effects on her now grown children. She realizes her struggles have led to choices and here she is. What now?

A person filled with God’s love makes different choices. A person filled with God’s love lets go of a past that cannot be changed and focuses on a now that is beautiful and filled with possibilities. A person filled with God’s love understands that the opinions of others really don’t matter because Jesus has washed them clean.

A sweet friend tells about one really bad decision she made years ago. It cost a great deal, not only for her but for her marriage and her child. She regrets that decision but it can never be undone.

She has forgiven herself and she knows God has too. It’s the people on the outside, those who have no business with an opinion at all, who even now throw it in her face. The lies of Satan can be relentless. God’s love has overcome them all.

God is love. It really is that simple. He is more than enough to fill us up, to make us believe that today and the days to come can be different. He tells us we are worthy, worthy enough that He sent His Son to die for us. Rest in that. Believe it. Walk in freedom. You are loved.

May 11, 2016

Follow Your Dream

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

What are you not doing because someone else doesn’t approve? I’m not talking about God. That’s approval you need. I’m talking about someone else in your life who is trying to impose their wishes on you.

I wonder how many opportunities we miss because someone else doesn’t want it for us. I wonder how many times we’ve failed to heed God’s call on our life because someone else thought we were being ridiculous.

The other day some friends and I were talking about prayer and the need to pray specifically for others. One man said he didn’t feel comfortable with that -- unless it was something like medical healing -- because he didn’t want to ask God for his will over someone else’s life.

I respect where he’s coming from but praying specifically for others isn’t about praying my will for them. It’s about asking specifically for God’s will in their life and for what they want.

An example: A sweet young woman has been trying for a year to be accepted as a student at the college of her choice. It is not my choice for her. She was accepted to my alma mater. I thought that’s where she should attend college. But her heart was somewhere else.

So I prayed for her. I prayed that God would grant her wish, not mine. I prayed for God’s will, of course, but I asked Him to let her dream come true. She got the acceptance letter she wanted so badly. She’s following her dream. I am happy for her.

We all have dreams. We imagine what our lives will be like. Sometimes life takes a detour and that’s okay. Well, maybe usually life takes a detour. But there are detours caused by something better or circumstances beyond our control -- such as an illness -- and there are detours caused by listening to others belittle our dreams.

A distant cousin has been a songwriter for much of his life. He is just now seeing some success. How long has he been following his dream? Twenty years? Probably longer. I have heard negative comments but never from his family. They have supported him unconditionally, have cheered him on, and done all they could to promote him. He is blessed to have them. Not everyone is so fortunate.

Here’s the thing: When God calls you to something, see it through. Don’t let anyone else’s opinion cause you to detour. That dream He placed in your heart is more valuable than gold because it came from God Almighty. Don’t let Him down.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

God’s Truth Sets Us Free

For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.”

-- Romans 4:3

But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.

-- Romans 4:5

We can’t earn salvation. Most of us know that. So why do we keep trying? Why do we find it so hard to accept the grace God has offered us? Why does the idea that Jesus Christ died horribly on a cross for you and me seem so far beyond what we can comprehend and accept?

Everything about what God has done for us, what Jesus has given us, goes against human nature. Obviously. God is, well, God. We can’t possibly comprehend His ways. Yet we try. We want to understand what we can’t possibly understand.

How can we believe we’re really saved, that we really have received the gift of eternal life, if we can’t accept that the gift comes without strings? Really. We believe so therefore we are saved. Faith. That’s all it takes.

We want to earn our salvation but we can never, ever be good enough to earn an eternity with God. So we want to know why, and how, God could love us so much that He’s willing to send His Son to die for us. In our world of people always expecting something in return for every good deed, it just doesn’t seem possible that the Creator of the universe would do something so loving and kind for those who can’t begin to deserve it.

But a funny thing happens when we slowly do begin to accept His gift. We want to do good. We want to be kind and loving and generous. While our deeds can’t save us, we want to please God. We want those we encounter each day to see Jesus’ light shining out from us.

Beth Moore made a wonderful observation in a DVD study. She said that our actions show our true belief systems. When we don’t believe ourselves worthy to accept God’s gift, we fall back into our old ways again. Self-sabotage, if you will. We know we aren’t worthy so we behave accordingly. It’s when we let go of that belief that we are truly free.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -- John 8:32

Monday, July 4, 2011

True Freedom Comes From 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.

-- Galatians 5:1

Today is the Fourth of July. Our country is celebrating its independence. We have so many freedoms that others around the world don’t have -- freedom to worship as we desire, freedom to speak our minds, freedom to have a fair trial with legal representation. I could go on and on. We who are citizens are greatly blessed.

Not because we did anything special. We didn’t. Our freedom was bought and paid for more than 200 years ago by the bravery of those who came before us. We are free because we were lucky enough to be born in the United States. We received a gift we didn’t earn. We should be thankful and filled with gratitude.

It’s the same with our salvation. Jesus died for us. We don’t deserve it. We certainly haven’t earned it. But He gave us this gift of eternal life. We only have to believe that Jesus is God’s Son, that He came to earth in human form, lived a perfect life and died a cruel death on a cross as He took our sins on Himself. He rose three days later and now sits at the right hand of God. When we accept His gift, we receive the Holy Spirit to live inside us. That is humbling.

Pastor Rob told us yesterday that instead of being filled with pride on this day we should be filled with gratitude. We live in a free country because of others. And we have been given new life because of Jesus Christ.

That gratitude should lead us to changed lives, Pastor Rob noted. How can you say you’re proud to be an American but despise the very things that make it so -- like free speech and taxes? How can you gratefully accept Jesus’ gift of salvation without changing how you see the poor, the sick, the outcasts?

We want freedom -- on our terms. We want others to go along with what we think and believe. But that isn’t true freedom. On this day, take a few moments to give thanks for your right to disagree with your neighbors and to worship God however you choose. And remember that our true freedom came when a humble carpenter died on a cross for you and me.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Focus On What Matters

So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. -- Galatians 5:1

We are all free to have our own opinions. We’re fortunate that way. Most of us enjoy expressing those opinions. Some look forward to stirring up a bit of controversy. Others can’t believe anyone would dare to disagree with their “right” way of thinking.

Yet so many times we get in a dither about things that really don’t matter. Seriously. We aren’t arguing issues like John 3:16. Nope we’re arguing about whether to sing a traditional hymn or a contemporary song. We argue about the temperature in the sanctuary. We disagree on the focus of mission work. I could go on and on.

The thing is most of those things folks get so upset about don’t matter. It’s just personal opinion. And everyone is entitled to his own. It doesn’t make someone else’s opinion any less correct. It’s just part of that unique difference between all of us.

The problem comes when all those petty squabbles take away from the message of Jesus Christ. We spend so much time focusing on things that don’t matter that we neglect those things that do. And, worse, others see our disagreements and use it as an excuse to pull away from the Church or not even hear its message the first time.

Oswald Chambers warns against being impatient with others, suggesting instead that we deal with others with the patience and gentleness God has shown us. Never back away from the core issues of the Bible. But remember “Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples,’ not ‘make converts to your opinions.’”

So, go ahead and exercise your freedom to have opinions all your own. Just allow others the same freedom as you.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Freedom

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. -- Psalm 118:5

We are slaves to the opinions of others. Even when we don't want to be. Who among us doesn't want to be popular, well-liked, respected, valued? Who doesn't want others to seek their company? Those inner desires make rejection so very painful.

Yet, why do we care? Why do the opinions of others matter so much to us? We can easily be led astray by trying to win the esteem of others. Just ask anyone who drank too much because he tried to keep up with his friends. Or spent too much because she wanted to shop like her sister. Or denied herself because she wanted to get along with the "in" crowd. I could go on and on.

God's opinion matters. That's it. He's the only One. And, really, that is so very freeing. We don't have to pretend to be someone we're not. We don't have to pretend to have money that isn't in our bank accounts. We don't have to own the nicest car or the best house or lots of possessions. As we stand before God, we can just be who we are.

That's where we get to bask in His glory and wisdom. That's the place where we feel the full impact of His advice and His blessings. When God's opinion matters before all others, somehow everything else seems to work out. Oh, other people might still reject us. People don't like those who are different. But it won't matter so much as we seek God's praise.

When the world and its opinions get to be too much for you, cry out to the only One whose opinion matters. He can set you free from the bondage of popular opinion and lead you to the peace of His perfect truth.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Let Christ Free You

"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

Charlie Sheen is back in rehab. You know who I'm talking about. He's Hollywood's bad boy. The highest paid television actor right now. The man with the boyish smile who is forever making headlines with his medical and legal issues. He's got it all. Money, fame, beautiful women. Have you ever seen anyone who is unhappier?

That's became money and fame and other people can never fill that hole inside of us. That hole was meant to be filled by Jesus and only He can fill it. No matter how hard we might try, we'll never have enough money or enough popularity or enough drugs or anything else to fill that hole. Some folks die before they ever figure that out.

We want to believe that money will set us free. If we just had enough money to live life as we choose, we'd be free. Or maybe fame would do it. If we were popular and well liked, we'd be free to live life on our own terms. Or maybe if we had that perfect spouse and kids, we'd finally be happy, content and free to get on with things. Nope. If there's one thing that celebrity addicts show us clearly, it's that excess doesn't bring freedom. Addiction -- whether to drugs, fame or popularity -- is one of the worst types of bondage you can imagine.

Jesus sets us free. He fills us with His Holy Spirit and we are free from the bondage of excess and that trying to please rollercoaster that never, ever ends. When you place your faith and your trust in Jesus, you get to climb off of it and live life without all that baggage. That is true freedom.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Freedom Or Chains?

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another."

-- Titus 3:3

We sometimes think that doing what we want and getting everything we desire would give us incredible freedom. It's that old belief that if we suddenly won millions in the lottery, then life would be perfect. Not really. Rather than giving us freedom, getting everything we want enslaves us.

Think about it. Does shopping make you happy? Many people would say yes. It's fun to go and try on clothes and find the perfect outfit and accessories. That big screen TV would be awesome in your home. What about a new car? Wow. Shopping can be a lot of fun. The resulting debt? Not so much. The shopping made us feel free to pick and choose. But that "freedom" enslaved us to credit card bills and loan payments that strain our budgets.

Or maybe you're feeling a little bored in your marriage. That person at work gets you. Really. He or she laughs at your jokes, sympathizes when life gets you down and makes you feel desirable with all that flirting. What could it hurt to have a little fun on the side? You deserve to be with someone who cares about you. It's your choice, after all. The consequences? Guilty lies, shattered trust, a broken marriage and kids shuffled between two homes because your "freedom" destroyed their lives and yours.

We teach children rules for their own good. Don't cross the street without looking both ways. Don't get into a car with a stranger. We teach them rules because we want them to be safe. Yeah, we want them to be happy too. But we don't let them play in the street just because they say it makes them happy. We know the danger so we do all we can to keep them safe.

That's how God is with us. He gives us rules. They're called the Ten Commandments. He's also included all kinds of circumstances and standards throughout the Bible. He didn't do it to take away our freedom. Remember, He gave us that freedom to begin with. God gave us rules because He wants to keep us safe. He wants us to be happy and He knows that sin only enslaves us.

The next time you decide to assert your freedom, stop and think a moment. It just might be that your freedom is really just Satan's way of wrapping you up in chains.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Believe God

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -- John 8:36

Don't you just hate expectations? Someone always expects something from us. We're to behave a certain way, do certain things, say or don't say what we mean. I could go on and on. People want us to be how they think we should be.

I understand that some expectations are good. We expect, for example, that someone driving a car on the highway is actually a licensed driver. We need rules like that. But what about the expections that limit who and what we are?

A teacher tells us we aren't smart -- and we believe her. A parent tells us we can't reach our dreams -- and we believe it. We believe we aren't pretty, aren't worthy, aren't capable. We believe all those around us -- voices of Satan -- who tell us we can't do what we truly believe God has called us to do.

The truth will set you free. It's what the Bible says. So what would happen if you stopped believing all the lies you hear that limit you and started believing what God thinks about you? The possibilities become endless.

God wants good things for you and me. He wants us to be happy and successful. He wants us to live our lives in His will, doing His work, for His glory. He wants to set us free from the sin that holds us in bondage. And that's what sin does. It limits all the possibilities that God offers His children.

So get down on your knees and ask God to show you what He has laid out for you. Bask in His love and accept His gifts. He has great plans for you that go far beyond anything you could ever imagine. Let Him show you all that you can be when you walk in His will.