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Freedom via Doing

It’s probably a good idea to follow-up the verse2014 from James that I shared yesterday with a little more context around that bit of teaching from the brother of Jesus.  Doing brings freedom!

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.   James 1:22–25 NIV

And not just any doing, but doing the word. This doesn’t mean following a set of rules – the old law. This means letting the new law work in you. Which sometimes is only a matter of getting out-of-the-way of yourself. Study it, think on it, let it transform your heart and allow the spirit to work. Then, kick fear to the curb and start doing what it says.

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Free! Anti-Slavery Day

It came to my attention this morning that in the UK today is Anti-Slavery Day.  A day that set aside to remember the amount of human trafficking and slavery that still occurs in our world. It’s actually quite shocking how much trafficking occurs, even in here in the United States.

That’s something for you to consider today, and how much of an injustice that is to people – especially since we are a people who love our freedom so much.

Or do we?

Not to reduce the human slavery notion of the day at all, but I know that is something that sometimes feels far away.  So I also want to urge you to think about your own slavery this morning – and how sometimes you might give up the freedom that the Christ gave you for the willing bondage to personal sin.

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. John 8:34 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

So today, let’s remember our freedom, and lets remember what we serve, as we consider the reality of some of the wickedness in our World.

Being then freed from sin, we have been made servants of justice. Romans 6:18 Douay-Rheims Bible

 

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Happy UFO Day

Today is World UFO Day!

I think it’s quite captivating that their website is sub titled “Celebrate the Truth”

Hm.. Now, I listen to George Noory and Coast to Coast as much as every late night driver, but I am not sure about this UFO thing.

 

What I can say is this:

 

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:31-33 New International Version (NIV)

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Happy Memorial Day

“Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.” – Albert Camus

45 I will walk in freedom,
for I have devoted myself to your commandments.  Psalm 119:45 New Living Translation (NLT)

 

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Called Out, But Free

I was thinking yesterday as I was driving off with my boys how nice it is to really be free from constraint.  If I want to drive down a particular road I can.  If I want to stay at home, I can.  I have no place that I HAVE to go, and nothing that forces me to do very much of anything.  Seriously, outside of paying taxes, and following some pretty common sense laws ( don’t steal, don’t kill, respect others stuff), I can pretty much do anything I want to do.

That’s a pretty amazing blessing.

“I have the right to do anything,”

Yes!  What a great right! Yet, is a bound we should still give consideration?  Paul writes these words to the believers at Corinth, who also experienced the great blesses of a society that valued freedom.

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything 1 Corinthians 6:12

And that is where the boundary is.  The boundary we self impose lies where things are beginning to not be beneficial or helpful for us and others, and where the thing you do has become your master.  As we approach Memorial Day, lots of people will be thinking about the gift of freedom, as we should.  Just a quick reminder to make sure you are always examining the way you use that wonderful freedom you have received and to remind you that as believers we need to make sure our freedom choices are in line with the requests of the Lord.

17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,says the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18