“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 than are you doing with this freedom? We look around ourselves and claim that we are free from slavery and the bondage of being controlled by another, but are you really convinced that this is true? There is no doubt that we enjoy freedom’s in this life that were not available to our ancestors, but the opposite is also true. We are led to believe that we are free to do what we want, say what we want, act the way we want and live the way we want as long as we do not hurt others in doing so. If

you ask most people on the street, they would say they are completely free to choose their path in life. I would agree with them, by this world’s terminology we experience freedom in the eyes of those around us, based on our actions and words. But, having said this, you must also then agree that in this societal freedom we have allowed ourselves to become enslaved by the world’s desires and thereby relinquished the freedom that was given to us through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Before the internet era, the digital era, or the communication era we were a society built on trust, integrity and the good of all mankind. We have become a society focused on self interests, open tolerance and blurred priorities as we claim more freedom. We have lowered our standards to the least common denominator and accept it as freedom of choice. The boundaries of truth and justice have become so weak that freedom has no real meaning any longer. What are you free from? Yes, we are free from the control of other individuals on your choices in life, but where is that in line with the freedom that God promises in His word.

Let’s reflect for a moment on the quality of a person’s spiritual life in today’s society verse the quality of spiritual life in say 1959. Sixty years have passed by, and based on man’s freedom of choice and tolerance: homosexuality is at an all-time high, pornography is rampant throughout all forms of media, abortions are commonplace, divorce is no longer the last resort, but has become one of the first options when strife enters a marriage, violent crimes and hate crimes are on the rise, respect for one's elders has become a thing of the past and the most harmful of all – those that claim Jesus Christ as the One and only way to eternal life have decreased dramatically. As we claim our freedom from the control of others we have also separated ourselves from the control of the Father.

Christ’s death on the cross was to provide you spiritual freedom from this world. To give you the strength, a purpose and meaning beyond the evil that exists in life. The freedom of knowing that there is One greater than this world, greater than the evil that tempts us daily to succumb to the freedom of self-centeredness. The addictions we suffer when we are bound by societies open tolerance are actually enslaving us from experiencing the love, grace, and freedom promised by God alone. You cannot have both the truth of God and the tolerance lauded by this world. There is a benchmark that we are to be held accountable too, and it is not the least common denominator of tolerating everything and everyone’s choices in life. The benchmark is the life of Jesus Christ, and the righteousness that is granted through His death. Strive for truth, resist the tolerance that society has claimed as freedom of choice, for it is not free at all in the end when justice will reign from above. Every choice, every decision has an impact on the eternal soul of each of us. You should seek the freedom from this world’s control and fully embrace the freedom found in allowing God to control your choices.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Break the Chains

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“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” – 1 John 2:16

What is it that separates you from God?
We say all the right words, on the outside we portray the part and make sure that those around us all know we believe in God, but what’s on the inside? What is in your heart, your soul and filling your mind each and every day? The essence of walking in the light and living for Christ requires that each of us evaluate our true motives, intent and reason for what we believe in.

At one point in your life you came to an understanding that God was real, and that He alone held the keys to your eternal existence. For the average person, overwhelmed by the busyness of life, the very next question would be, “What must I do to secure my place in God’s eternal heaven?” The motive was right, unfortunately the execution (for most of us) has been unquestionably way off base. You see, it’s not a checklist that gets you into heaven, nor is it a to do list that you can project manage. It’s building a relationship, an intimate relationship with the Creator of all things. It’s putting aside your desires, your dreams and your passion and picking up His.

We are all addicted to something. For some it’s money, others it’s sex, or pornography, drugs, alcohol, work, food, material possessions, time and having control. It’s that thing that draws you away from executing what God has placed on your heart to do with your life. We read the words of scripture, focus our effort in prayer and quiet time to draw closer to God and then go about the rest of our day as if that is all He requires. Sitting in a church pew, singing hymns and raising hands, praying earnestly on Sunday and then chasing after our own dreams and life throughout the rest of the week without any consideration for His call is nothing more than a game of charades.

So what is it that captures your mind on Monday morning through Saturday night that draws you away from God? What is it that you are lusting after, that is separating you from spending time pursuing His purpose and making an impact for His Kingdom? This is going to be a week of self evaluation as we start 2013. It is my hope that we can all draw from this week and grow together as a body of Christ to change. We need less focus on the world’s offering and more focus on what He has already given us. We have allowed the world to draw us away from our Father and this is the year, we break that addiction and rekindle our first love. Please take this opportunity to join me in looking deep inside of yourself and asking the hard questions. If you know someone who can also benefit, please forward this on and share it with them.