To Walk in Freedom

Lord, I thank you forever. You love me, save me, and forgive me of all my sin. You set me free!

THANK YOU FOR FREEDOM.

Thank you for another reminder this week of all that you have done. In the past I chose death; but by your gracious hand and unfailing love I receive life.

I never want to live apart from you, for my freedom is in you and you alone.

THANK YOU JESUS.

Thank you for Psalm 119

44 I will keep your law continually, forever and ever. 45 I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.

Commentary: Self-help is a vanity; fleeting and worthless.

What a Difference a Word Makes

1 Chronicles 19: 1 – 5

¹ Some time afterward, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him. ² David said, “I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father dealt loyally with me.” So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. When David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites, to console him, ³ the officials of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has sent consolers to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” ⁴ So Hanun seized David’s servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away; ⁵ and they departed. When David was told about the men, he sent messengers to them, for they felt greatly humiliated. The king said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.” (emphasis mine)

Much like the passage found above, I am asking you to take a closer look at the path embarked upon when one person exposes another in an unloving manner. Do you see how a single negative word from a naysayer can expose underlying fear, thereby increasing the likelihood of lashing out? Or likewise, how easily an ‘exposed’ and offended person suffers emotional trauma?

It does not matter whether this unloving and highly-personal exposure is done with malice, by force or is purely accidental in nature. The result is the same. Humans experience acute humiliation when their flesh is exposed, made to be an example (for all to see) or simply disgraced by the hint of scandal. Since we are made of flesh and blood we can not avoid it. This path is taken regardless of whether the exposing is purely physical in nature (as seen in scripture above) or spiritually-speaking as an uncovering of our sinful, flesh-filled ways (seen in the Book of Genesis).

The primary purpose of this teaching, however, is not to depress but to help lift you up through the proclamation of the Good News. You have been bought with a price, redeemed and chosen through Jesus Christ. God’s grace has been extended to you. Jesus, the very Lamb of God, shed his blood. Without blemish he became a perfect offering for our sin. He was a man of suffering. He was despised and rejected on our behalf in order that we might be adopted as the sons and daughters of God.

Hear the word of the Lord:

Ephesians 1: 7

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

He lavished his Love on us. Now, Let us rejoice!

The secondary purpose of this teaching is to gently remind me of the reason why Christians, should practice the discipline of extending great grace. Look at King David’s response. In a Christ-like manner King David responded with kindness and gentleness allowing the injured to have time to heal. While these two fruits of the Spirit are some of the most under-rated (or least tasted) ways in the church today, they are given to us for a purpose: to assist in the giving of new life to others.

Made in the image of their creator, the fruits of the Spirit are life-giving fruits.

With God’s help we are called to do the same. . . so let us be doers of the Word (James 1: 22) ; choose to crucify our flesh (Galatians 5: 22 – 25); and become first responders in times of fear, shame, humiliation and personal offense.

Our weapons are not of this world (Ephesians 6: 10 – 20). Come armed with the Word of God.

Matthew 5: 44

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (emphasis mine)

Intimacy

The Marks of Intimacy

True friends spend a lot of time together.

They seek each other out and talk non-stop.

They cherish one another.

They trust each other.

They tend to hold the same world view.

They talk about everything (esp. kids).

Physical appearance doesn’t really matter.

They cry, laugh and dance together.

They go on walks.

They break bread and dine together.

God too wants to see these marks in you – between you and him. And before long you will hear these very words written for you:

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made know to you everything that I have heard from my father.

John 15: 15

Put Away Childish Ways

God is Love! Do you really believe this? Do you spend your day with him and linger in conversation? or Do you still try to shape God into becoming your own personal genie who will grant you 3 wishes (e.g., health, wealth and happiness)?

As a child I acted out of selfishness and rebelled from God's ways. At the end of the school day I ran to the television; I didn't run to God. I loved the television show "I Dream of Genie" and exchanged truth for a lie. I also spoke like a child, "Give me, give me, give me!" I also listened to familiar voices tell me, "What's so wrong with wanting good things for yourself, family, friends, and the neighbor next door?". . . except for the truth that wishful thinking is not the same as faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.

4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrong doing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7

See the whole of 1 Corinthians 13. The message is clear. There is nothing selfish about love.

• Love is self-less.
• Love is described as the laying down of one's life for another (see Matthew 20: 24 - 28).
  
• Love willingly places others before oneself.
  
• Love is self-sacrificial; making the love of Christ known through any (and all) physical act of tending to the needs of others.

Therefore, since we are sinners in need of a Savior, let us look to Jesus Christ. For he has shown us how to live and how to die. Jesus continually sought God the Father for all things including his direction, words and strength. Jesus prayed this prayer, "Thy will be done."

Ah! This is costly. A precious jewel. He is Love.

Lord, Please help me! I am in need of Savior. I have failed by every measure. Please show me how to live and what to do. On this very day I want to learn to love like you. Grant me strength to put away those childish ways that solely seek to please myself. Forgive me too for treating you like an earthen idol. I now choose to turn this day. "Thy will be done" in my life. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Entrust

1 Peter 4: 12 - 19

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

"If it is hard for the righteous
to be saved,
what will become of the
ungodly and the sinners?"

19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God's will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good (emphasis mine).

To entrust implies a deliberate and continuous form of trusting. For example, to entrust implies that one is actively committed to trust. To entrust means that an individual has chosen to place his (or her) full confidence in the one deemed trustworthy.

Go ahead. Confide in Him. God himself is Faithful and True.

Numbers 23: 19
God is not a human being, that he should lie,
or a mortal, that he should change his mind.
Has he promised, and will he not do it?
Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

At His Feet & Waiting

Mary knew to sit at the feet of Jesus. She set aside the busyness of the day (e.g., waiting on the guests) and listened to the truth. She waited on God.

Mary also knelt at Jesus’ feet and wept. She knew the truth. Her only hope was in Jesus Christ – the way, the truth and the light.

How do you wait on God?

• Are you sitting on a rush seat sitting at your kitchen table with dirty dishes and the newspaper nearby?
• Or do you linger and weep for him, placing your whole trust in him?

You too have touched His feet you seek to lavish Him with your love in spite of the cost.

Remember this about Mary: although she was scorned by one who was in the fold but of the world (i.e., Judas), she was undeterred in her pursuit of intimacy with the Lord . . . and the Lord approved!

Luke 10: 38 - 42

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (emphasis mine).

John 11: 32

32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

John 12: 1 - 8

1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served , and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keept it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

At His Feet

At the end of the age, at his feet we will be. No one, not a single person will be left standing. For every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Isaiah 45: 23; Philippians 2: 9-11; Romans14: 11). The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is to receive honor and glory and power . . . and the twenty four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing (Revelation 4: 10 -11).

To what extent do you grasp the true meaning of these actions? In the context of our American culture we have no comparable experience. We only understand in part. In theory we understand that when one goes before an emperor or king there is a protocol to be followed, but we don’t have an emperor or king. We also say the words that “honor is due” to those in authority over us, but we retain the right to argue with them. So how do we begin to learn to show true honor to our Coming King of Glory?

Christian Dalits of India can help teach us by their example. From the very beginning, at their moment of birth, these Dalit people are not considered worthy of being touched. Their fellow countrymen will not even place them in a human caste system and as their name suggests they are labeled “untouchables.” In fact, the mere touching of an “untouchable” has been prohibited over the centuries and every human dignity has been denied them. But by the grace of God, those Dalits who experience new birth through Jesus Christ are now learning what it means to give honor and respect. How? By the touching of feet. They do not go around touching everybody’s feet, but the feet of one’s elders (as in the leaders of the church) and those whom one genuinely respects. It is a deliberate act and within their faith community they find opportunities to provide believers and leaders with this dignity.

Do you personally find opportunities to show outward signs of your respect to the Coming King? Are you able to humble yourself? Do you get down low enough? (e.g. on your knees) Will you touch the foot of another? Jesus did. Read John 13: 1 – 11. Jesus not only got on his knees but he also washed the feet of his disciples. He did this in a manner of servitude, showing by example, and thereby prepared his disciples to do the same.

Will you touch the feet of the Coming King? Will you give him the honor and respect that is due? Will you humble yourself and touch the feet of Christ through a washing of the feet of your brother or sister in Christ? Don’t you see? Christ lives in them, and what you do to one of them you do for him (see Matthew 25: 31 – 46).

Now go forth treasuring these words in your heart: But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves (James 1: 22).

Before I was humbled I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

Psalm 119: 67