Freedom: April 21, 2011

APRIL 21, 2011: TODAYS WORD FOR THURSDAY APRIL 21, 2011

FREEDOM

DEFINITION:

The state of being free; personal liberty or national independence.

SCRIPTURE:

“It is to freedom that you have been called, my brothers. Only be careful that freedom does not become a mere opportunity for your lower nature (the flesh). You should be free to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13. (Phillips translation)

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

When God created us He gave us a free will to choose whether or not to serve Him. With that free will comes the freedom to sin. Sin, however, is not free. It comes with a price tag --- death and eternal separation from God.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin. Those who accept God’s free gift of salvation are set free from the penalty of sin. Salvation covers the penalty for all of our sins, but does not take away our freedom to sin. However, just because all of our sins have been forgiven, it does not give us a license to sin. There are consequences to our sinning and God will hold us accountable. In Galatians 5:13 (verse above) Paul warns us, “to be careful that freedom does not become a mere opportunity for your lower nature (the flesh).”

Recently we listened to a testimony on television of a man who had just been released from prison. He talked about his years in prison and the loss of freedom that he experienced. He spent most of each day locked up in a small cell and could not go anywhere or talk to anyone. He lost his freedom to do what he wanted to do and could always do before he committed his crime. This man went on to say how different it was now that he was out of prison. For the first time in his life he has put real value on having freedoms.

Being in prison is not the only time people feel that they have lost their freedom. Issues in life force people to lose certain freedoms that some would say were minor. Freedoms like going where you want to go if you were physically disabled or having some crippling disease or freedom to do certain things if you were living in inescapable poverty, lost your job, or your home. These circumstances affect your freedom to do what you would like to do.

America was founded by those who had lost their freedom to worship God. Today most Americans have no idea what it means to live without freedom to do what we want when we want. As believers we need to take a new look at what it means to have freedom in Christ.

Reading God’s Word, the Bible, each day is a privilege that many people around the world do not have. In the Second World War when the Americans arrived in the Philippines, many political prisoners were freed from prison. Among the “crimes” that these people had committed was that of reading the Bible. They had no freedom.

Soon after his release from prison a man came to a missionary in the Philippians and asked if it were true that he could now read his Bible? The missionary pointed to a nearby American flag and said: “So long as you see that flag flying overhead you can read your Bible on the roof of your house and no one will bother you.” That is a great definition of freedom for us.

In 1942 Franklin D. Roosevelt, then President of the United States of America said:

“We look forward to a world founded on four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom for every person to worship God in his own way. The second is freedom of speech and expression. The third is freedom from want and finally the freedom from fear.”

The Bible has a lot to share with us about the freedom God has given us that love and serve Him. God first dealt in the Bible about freedom in Genesis (13:10-13). Abraham responded to the leading of God and gave Lot the freedom of choice as to the land that would be his. Lot chose the fertile land of the plains of Jordan and left the desert area of Canaan to Abraham. But as the scriptures tell us, the land that Lot chose caused nothing but problems for Lot while God blessed the land left to Abraham. The reason was very clear. Lot with his freedom chose not to honor and serve God with all his heart, mind and soul. Abraham with his freedom of choice chose to serve God.

We are told to proclaim freedom to the poor in Isaiah 61:1. This is why we often communicate to you in these devotionals the importance of helping the poor in their time of trouble. Also we have spent most of our lives dedicated to helping in mission outreaches that care for the poor. We will assure you that God will bless those that reach out to help the poor.

We are promised freedom from our sins in Romans 6:14. The greatest freedom is that given by God when He lifts our burden of sin. In John 8:32-36 we are told that if we continue in God’s Word --- read the Bible; if you are faithful --- to the Lord and if you live according to God’s teaching that He has given to us --- then --- “We shall know the truth and the truth shall make us free”(verse 36). Jesus is the truth and knowing Him as our Savior sets us free from the penalty of death for our sin. That is the freedom God has for us that believe in Him.

Finally in 1 Peter 2:16-17 we are admonished as believers to “Live as free men; not however as though your freedom were there to provide a screen for wrongdoing; but live as servants of God, honoring all men, love your brothers and fear God.”

We encourage you to let Christ control your life for then you have true freedom that will last for a lifetime.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Colossians 3:4.

When Christ who is our life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.

PRAYER:

Help me and my family to appreciate the freedoms that we have. Thank You for the continued freedom You give us today to read Your Word and to pray openly as a family