Enjoying Your Freedom

   Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:1 NKJV Bible Gateway

   Liberty and Freedom. Today is a day of joyous celebration for the whole country. Marching bands and barbecues and fireworks. Nothing shy, subdued or subtle about the 4th of July. We will remember those who have died to create this land of the free as well as those brave men and women who gave their all to protect it. The very bones of our nation are built on the idea that all of us are equal and free to persue happiness. Whatever that might look like and regardless of the cost.

    No! That’s not what it says in the constitution. It does say that we are all created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But, one mans happy might be another mans sad. This is why we have laws to govern our behavior. I am not free to do whatever I like if it interferes with another persons life, liberty or pursuit of happiness.

    Likewise most “religions” have lots of rules of conduct and traditions that must be adhered to. Jesus came to fulfilled the Law and heralded in a new and better way. Radically different from the old way because the Law of Moses was incapable of cleansing us from our sins. It only covered up our sin until they could be washed away. Washed by the Blood of the Lamb. The Lamb that takes away the sin of the world.

     We, who have trusted in the shed blood of Jesus, should hold our heads up high and walk in the liberty and freedom that Christ has made for us and not be again mixed up in the rules and traditions of religion or in the guilt and shame of our own past sins. Who the Son sets free is free indeed. Free to live a life full of love for Him who first loved us and free to share that love with everyone. Yes, everyone.

    Let freedom ring this 4th of July and let that song you sing be a song of love because God is love and He desires that all come to the saving knowledge of the truth. Let us fulfill the law of Love.

      Be blessed. Have fun. Love them like Jesus. Al

The Old Man in a Commercial Van

   For over 30 years of my life I have been working in construction and that has meant that I have been driving some type of truck or van for almost all of that time. Usually these vehicles have been registered as commercial trucks and therefor are not allowed on certain roads or parkways. Even when driving on the roads trucks are permitted on, we are encouraged to stay out of the left lane of traffic.

   Years of obeying these rules of the road create a certain mind set. I plan my trips to and from job sites around the roads and traffic patterns that I am allowed on. It becomes second nature.

   Once in a great while I find myself behind the wheel of my wife’s nice SUV. It has all the bells and whistle. Remote control mirrors, GPS navigation, back up camera and heated seats.  It rides so smooth and the seat is like an arm chair. The radio sounds like a concert hall and it even has air conditioning! It is a world apart from my dusty noisy old work truck and it can go on any road it wants.

Yet I still drive like I am in that van!

Sad to say that this second nature mind set is not always limited to driving.

   Before coming to the Lord I was in a main stream religious organization that had it’s own rules and regulations and interpretation of God’s Word along with it’s own doctrines and dogma.  Being good and following rules was emphasized more than being in right relationship with God or regular direct fellowship with Jesus.

   Just like my truck diving mentality I was ingrained with certain religious beliefs that influenced my behavior. Likewise the early church had old beliefs, rules and regulations that had to be addressed.

   Three times Jesus showed Peter in a vision that what had been considered unclean was now clean and fit for eating. Jesus was using this occasion to teach Peter that the old laws concerning food were to be abolished and that the spread of the Gospel of salvation was to be broadened to the Gentiles as well as the Jew. Acts 10 (emphases on vss 10-16 and 34-48)

   But we are stubborn people and slow to change at times. Paul spoke out against the need for circumcision and following the old law.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  Galatians 5

   Later in the same chapter, as well as elsewhere, Paul speaks of how this new found liberty is no excuse to sin. Rather this freedom should be the catalyst for good in that we are not bound by countless laws (well, 613 to be exact). Instead we have all the of the law summed up into one – Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Gal 5:14b/Lev 19:18

   Further on Paul elaborates by contrasting the Lawless Old Man with The Free New Man –

   Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Gal 5: 19-25 NKJV

AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW!

   Ever get in to trouble for being polite? Ever get a ticket for doing the speed limit? Ever get fired for doing the best job ever? I hope not. That’s because there’s no law against doing the right thing. Paul is telling us that as long as we lean on and follow the Spirit of God in our hearts, mind and actions we are not under the bondage of the law.

Love is the only Law

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 NKJV

Let us not forgot what Jesus answered when they tested Him about the Law –

 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 22:34-40

 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

John 8:36 NKJV

Stand in the glorious light of liberty that Jesus has purchased for you and shine that light of Love on all you see today. Thanks for stopping by and be blessed, Al

Happy 4th Of July !!!!!!

God Bless America by Irving Berlin

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
God bless America, My home sweet home.

Bar-B-Ques, Parades, Fireworks, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, Family and Friends and hopefully no rain! Oh, lets not forget the music! Concerts and patriotic songs playing everywhere. Once a year we all stand up and beat a drum (and our chest) in celebration of our country and our history and our freedom. Freedom from the tyranny of an oppressive foreign king. Freedom from free and freedom to live the life you want.

Norman Rockwell immortalized FDR’s* 4 freedoms in oil paintings back in 1943. They are just as touching and true today. You can see them here.

While you are enjoying the freedom our forefathers authored and so many have protected with their lives keep in mind the freedom that was purchased for you over 2000 years ago. Freedom from the bondage of sin and freedom from the death sentence sin brings with it.

Like our forefathers, God had a dream of seeing His people live lives free from sin. Like those who fought so hard to keep America free, Jesus gave His all to make it possible for everyone to be free from sin and death. All you need do is trust Him at His word and turn to Him. He will do the rest.The blood Jesus shed on the cross will wash away even the darkest sin and make you white as snow.

Consider enjoying Independence Day in a whole you way

Give your heart to Jesus and be truly free.

 

Blessed is the Nation whose God is The Lord  Ps. 33:12 KJV

* FDR proposed 4 Freedoms, that everyone in the world should have, in his state of the union speech in 1941.

Remembering Those Who Paid The Price

Freedom is never free.

Someone has to pay for it.

Currently 2,717,991 men and women have died or been wounded in conflicts from 1775 to present. Once a year we set aside a day to remember them and be grateful. Its a day of celebration. A day off from work. A day to spend with family and friends. A day some mark as the “unofficial” start to the Summer season. No matter what we call that day we get to enjoy it safely under the blanket of protection and freedom purchased by the blood of those who answered a call to arms. We owe them a debt we can never repay. I doubt that they would accept payment from us if we could. It is their gift to us.

I am Proud to be An American by Lee Greenwood

On a hill far away a long time ago One Man gave His Life so that those who followed after Him would be Free also. Freedom from sin and freedom from death itself. We owe Him a debt we can never repay. I know that He wouldn’t accept payment from us if we could. It is His gift to us and we could never earn it.

As we enjoy this Memorial Day holiday and whatever it may bring, let us take a moment to remember those who gave their all to purchase our freedom here in America. Let us also consider Him who came and died so that we might be free from the sting of sin and death. Consider the gift of God, the price He paid and whether or not you will accept His gift to be free for all eternity.

Happy Memorial Day! God Bless.

“God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him. People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty. Those who do not believe have already been judged guilty, because they have not believed in God’s one and only Son.They are judged by this fact: The Light has come into the world, but they did not want light. They wanted darkness, because they were doing evil things.All who do evil hate the light and will not come to the light, because it will show all the evil things they do.But those who follow the true way come to the light, and it shows that the things they do were done through God.” John 3:16-21 NCV