Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
As Christians, we are free. As Americans, we are free. We have the opportunity, as Paul does in the above passage to use our freedom for the greater good.
Lord, thank you for my freedom in Christ and my civil freedom. Please help me to give up these rights as needed to secure the liberty of others. Amen.
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Monday, July 3, 2017
1 Corinthians 8:9 - Freedom vs. responsibility
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
We are free in Christ. A person who has been a Christian for a long time had gained knowledge about those freedoms, but a new Christian may have not. This passage is about meat sacrificed to idols. Because there really are no other Gods, a Christian may understand that there is no harm in eating that meat, but a new Christian, especially one who was influenced by the idol or god the meat was sacrificed to, would feel like eating that meat was a sin. So, the long time Christian should not eat this meat when they are with the new Christian. I think drinking alcohol may fall into this category. Can you think of other freedoms we may need to give up for the sake of a weaker brother?
Lord, thank you for our freedoms in Christ. Please help us to limit ourselves in those freedoms if it will cause someone else to stumble, Amen,
We are free in Christ. A person who has been a Christian for a long time had gained knowledge about those freedoms, but a new Christian may have not. This passage is about meat sacrificed to idols. Because there really are no other Gods, a Christian may understand that there is no harm in eating that meat, but a new Christian, especially one who was influenced by the idol or god the meat was sacrificed to, would feel like eating that meat was a sin. So, the long time Christian should not eat this meat when they are with the new Christian. I think drinking alcohol may fall into this category. Can you think of other freedoms we may need to give up for the sake of a weaker brother?
Lord, thank you for our freedoms in Christ. Please help us to limit ourselves in those freedoms if it will cause someone else to stumble, Amen,
Monday, March 20, 2017
Psalm 121:7 - Safety
The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
We all want to feel safe. Yesterday I was out for a walk and three little girls were out running around, following a puppy. The puppy had on a new harness, so it appeared this was a new member of their family. The little girls were trying to pick up the puppy but when they did the puppy would just squeal and try to escape their grasp. The puppy came running toward me and I bent down and scooped it up. I held it firmly and the puppy was quiet. I told the little girls, "Hold the puppy under her belly, next to your body so she feels safe." That is what we all want, we want to feel safe. As much as we want freedom, we also long for safety and security. When we give our lives to God, along with salvation and so much more, we also receive safety and security.
Lord, thank you for safety and security. Please help us to rest in your arms. Amen.
he will watch over your life;
We all want to feel safe. Yesterday I was out for a walk and three little girls were out running around, following a puppy. The puppy had on a new harness, so it appeared this was a new member of their family. The little girls were trying to pick up the puppy but when they did the puppy would just squeal and try to escape their grasp. The puppy came running toward me and I bent down and scooped it up. I held it firmly and the puppy was quiet. I told the little girls, "Hold the puppy under her belly, next to your body so she feels safe." That is what we all want, we want to feel safe. As much as we want freedom, we also long for safety and security. When we give our lives to God, along with salvation and so much more, we also receive safety and security.
Lord, thank you for safety and security. Please help us to rest in your arms. Amen.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Psalm 119:46 - Confidence from the word
I will speak of your statutes before kings
and will not be put to shame,
When we know the word, we have confidence to share the word. In this section of Psalm 119, the author talks about knowing the law so well, they can answer one who taunts them, trust in the word, put their hope in the laws, walk in freedom and speak the statues before kings. Knowledge of the word gives us the confidence we need to go about our lives.
Lord, thank you for your word. Please help us to be confident in life and speaking to others about you. Amen.
and will not be put to shame,
When we know the word, we have confidence to share the word. In this section of Psalm 119, the author talks about knowing the law so well, they can answer one who taunts them, trust in the word, put their hope in the laws, walk in freedom and speak the statues before kings. Knowledge of the word gives us the confidence we need to go about our lives.
Lord, thank you for your word. Please help us to be confident in life and speaking to others about you. Amen.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Psalm 107:14 - Chains
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
We all have chains. Chains of addiction, sorrow, pain or trouble. But when we allow God to bring us out of the darkness and into his glorious light, he also helps us break our chains. Chains don't always break overnight and if you are like me, you have a tendency to go back and put the chains back on, but with the hope of heaven in our sight, we know that these chains are not our master and one day we will be made perfect and chain free when we are with God.
Lord, thank you for bringing us out of the slavery of sin, Please help us to continually rely on you to remove our chains. Amen.
and broke away their chains.
We all have chains. Chains of addiction, sorrow, pain or trouble. But when we allow God to bring us out of the darkness and into his glorious light, he also helps us break our chains. Chains don't always break overnight and if you are like me, you have a tendency to go back and put the chains back on, but with the hope of heaven in our sight, we know that these chains are not our master and one day we will be made perfect and chain free when we are with God.
Lord, thank you for bringing us out of the slavery of sin, Please help us to continually rely on you to remove our chains. Amen.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Exodus 16:35 - Forty years
The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.
Can you imagine eating the same food for forty years? Why forty years? Why did the Israelites have to wander for all that time? What did God do with forty years? In that time God had Moses write down the history of humanity up to that time and all the commands from God. He was also teaching the Israelites how to not be slaves, but to rely on him, their heavenly master. A whole new generation of Israelites would be born during this time, knowing only freedom.
Lord, thank you for taking the time to teach us what we need to learn. Help us to be patient while learning those lessons. Amen.
Can you imagine eating the same food for forty years? Why forty years? Why did the Israelites have to wander for all that time? What did God do with forty years? In that time God had Moses write down the history of humanity up to that time and all the commands from God. He was also teaching the Israelites how to not be slaves, but to rely on him, their heavenly master. A whole new generation of Israelites would be born during this time, knowing only freedom.
Lord, thank you for taking the time to teach us what we need to learn. Help us to be patient while learning those lessons. Amen.
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