Freed Indeed

Freed Indeed

John 8: ³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

³³ They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

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Discussing it with the person who sublet the apartment for the summer, I planned this particular sin. I did not want to be disturbed, so I asked for privacy. It was my first time doing this so my heart raced each time I thought of what I was getting into. Afterwards, it was all I could think of.

• Sometimes sin rules my thoughts.
• Sometimes sin guides my actions.
• Sometimes sin seems like a good idea, especially since “everyone else is doing it.”

JESUS told those who believed in HIM how to be free. “If you abide in MY word, you are MY disciples indeed.” Then HE said “You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.” “We have never been slaves”, they replied. “Sure you have… You are slaves to sin.”

• JESUS wants me to admit I am a slave to sin and I do not deserve to live with a sinless GOD.
• JESUS wants me to believe HE is the only cure for my sin because HE died as a sinless human and was raised from the dead, placed over everything as GOD.
• JESUS wants me to confess my sin willingly so HE would be willing to cleanse me of ALL sins.

Abiding in JESUS’s word sound constrictive, but it truly is freeing. I am now free to live without the burden of eternal separation from GOD. When I study HIS word, I find out what pleases and displeases GOD. No longer is HE such a mystery.

I can serve others and live my life with a purpose. I am free to speak about HIM and let people know JESUS is the only way to freedom. I am grateful HE has freed me indeed!

• What are you bound to?
• Is there something or things in your life you absolutely are not willing to let go of, that are not pleasing to GOD?
• Will you allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you to HIS purpose in JESUS today?

Fighting the Struggle

Hosea 12: ³ In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;
    as a man he struggled with God.
⁴ He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
    he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel
    and talked with him there—
⁵ the Lord God Almighty,
    the Lord is his name!
⁶ But you must return to your God;
    maintain love and justice,
    and wait for your God always.

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“Why do I have to know who signed some document hundreds of years ago?” was my question as I struggled with the subject. I gave up on History. “Why do I have to pull myself up only to drop and do it again?” was my question as I struggled to do pullups in gym. I gave up on being strong. “Why do I have to read the Bible and go to church?” was my question as I struggled to balance time. I stepped away from GOD.

• In the past when something was a struggle I would give up.
• In the past when something was difficult I would cave in.
• In the past when something was hard to overcome I would let it get the best of me and quit.

It seemed like even following GOD was too difficult. I mean I tried to be perfect and found I could not, so I walked away. BUT GOD wanted me to see HIM differently.

• GOD wanted me to return to HIM so HE could open my eyes.
• GOD wanted me to maintain love and justice so HE could use the talents HE placed in me.
• GOD wanted me to wait on HIM so I could see the marvelous work HE had in store for me.

When I returned to GOD I found I had more time for HIM than I thought. In fact, the older I get, the more I realize I need HIM daily. I went back to attempting doing a pullup. I could only do one at first then two then many. I started to read the history of GOD’s people gaining understanding of where humans made mistakes. GOD was patient enough to take my struggles and turn them into victories!

• What are you struggling with?
• Do you find yourself on your own?
• Can you stop fighting GOD and turn your face to HIM?
• Will you allow HIM to help you with your battle today by focusing on HIM rather than the struggle?

Blessings on you today!

Numbers 6: ²² The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ²³ “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘Here is how I want you to bless the people of Israel. Say to them,

²⁴ “‘“May the Lord bless you
    and take good care of you.
²⁵ May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
²⁶ May the Lord look on you with favor
    and give you his peace.”’

²⁷ “In that way they will put the blessing of my name on the people of Israel. And I will bless them.”

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Sometimes it feels great to break the negative habit of begging GOD for more stuff or to fix something else.  Blessing someone means encouraging them, growing them and pointing them to GOD.

When I bless someone, my attitude changes. I mean how can I stay mad at the person I blessed? In fact, the more I wish well on others, the more I realize how GOD desires the best for me.

Here is what I desire…

• May GOD thoroughly bless you this day!
• May your cares and concerns be minimized by GOD to provide you with a moment of peace.
• May you see HIS plan unfold in front of you this day!

Where is the crowd when I need them?

Exodus 23: ² “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, ³ and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.

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Smiles and laughter reigned this evening. I reserved the multipurpose room in the dorm for our small gathering and somehow word got out that we were having a party. People from all over the campus showed up. It felt cool being the person who people were asking for until a fight broke out.

Everyone was asked to leave and the dorm director asked “who reserved this room?” Everyone scattered and I had to face this with only a few brave souls but the crowd thinned quickly.

• The crowd is quick to do wrong as long as they can get away with it.
• The crowd wants to be as wild as it can be without responsibility.
• The crowd doesn’t want justice rather it wants what it wants when it wants it.

Many times I have regretted following the crowd. The argument “everybody is doing it” is only an excuse to let my guards down and do what I want to do. What’s bad about this is the crowd will let me take the fall alone while it goes off and does something else wild.

• GOD wants me to stand firm for what HE says even when it’s not popular.
• GOD wants me to follow HIM when everyone around me is doing otherwise.
• GOD wants me to be different even when the crowd says follow us.

I have to examine every crowd I’m in, even church. Yes I said church. Sometimes this crowd can be the most dangerous. The religious falsely accused JESUS, murdered HIM and assumed the highest positions to rule over people and to be admired. This crowd was eternally wrong. GOD wants me to show discernment between judgment and compassion.

• Are you following the wrong crowd?
• Are you doing things because everyone is doing them?
• Can you use discernment to determine if the crowd is going in the direction GOD wants you to go?

I have someone who can help

Hebrews 2: ¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

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When I compare my temptations to other folks they seem rather mild. Okay, I was tempted to take my parents’ car without permission, look at a body I wasn’t married to, or move ahead in the company while taking others out of my way. People today would say “you are really a wimp” especially since I was really nervous as the temptation popped in my head.

Even though my temptations may seem mild they are temptations nonetheless. Who can help me with my temptations?

• When I am tempted to sin, I try to run away from GOD.
• When I am tempted to sin, I blame GOD for making too many rules.
• When I am tempted to sin, I look at others instead of myself and I justify my actions.

The devil knows sin blinds me from GOD’s grace. Every time I sin, I can’t see how GOD would love me, nor can I see that I have the right to tell anyone else about HIM.  I mean what would I say? “Follow the rules?” I couldn’t even follow them myself. Wait, maybe that’s what I should say!

• I should tell people I sin and GOD forgives me.
• I should tell people JESUS became a human and understands everything I go through.
• I should tell people GOD desires to help “anyone” who is willing to hear HIM.

GOD loved me so much that HE took my punishment for sin. HE sentenced HIMSELF and allowed HIS humans to murder HIM. Before HE died HE was tempted in every way possible. Yes “every way.” HE never sinned and fully understands my battle. HE is my focus to help me see around the temptation.

• Are you tempted?
• Do you feel like you are not in control of your life?
• Can you allow GOD to comfort you?
• Won’t you believe HE knows what you are going through and wants to help?

I am weak when I think I’m strong

1 Corinthians 10: ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

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Hard work and innovation wasn’t enough to be in “the club.” I mean I had delivered some fantastic things for the company; shouldn’t I be promoted based on merit? I was careful with my budget, growing people and deriving new ways to grow but “the club” was elusive.

I went out with “the club” and they started talking about women’s body parts. “Is this my entry into the club? Maybe I should join in!” was the tempting thought that popped into my head.

I was finally in “the club” but at what cost?

• When I think I got it together is when I am the weakest.
• When I believe nothing can touch me is when I will be attacked.
• When I look at my achievements instead of my pitfalls I open myself up to temptation.

There is always a way out of temptation but are my desires blocking the exit door? Temptation doesn’t seem to come straight at me rather it lurks behind some other desire. Temptation also doesn’t seem to attack me when I can truly see I need GOD.

• GOD will always make a way out of temptation no matter how many times I fall.
• GOD gets excited when I get back up and follow HIS ways.
• GOD wants me to understand I need HIM instead of depending on my strength.

Every human has and will be tempted.  JESUS was tempted in more ways than I can even imagine. Being the all-powerful GOD yet remaining subject to human insults showed incredible restraint that only JESUS could perform.  HE did not fall to temptation to flex rather HE went to HIS execution for me. That is real strength.

• Do you think you have it together?
• Are you focused on your own accolades?
• Are you ready for today’s temptations?
• Will you let GOD be your strength instead of depending on yourself?

The last ingredient to getting my way!

John 15: ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

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We arrived at the cancer center for children. I kept looking at my watch keeping track of my time. “Finally” I said to myself as my boss walked in late. “Now that I have officially been seen by my boss, I can get out of here and go do what I want.” I mean he was the one who set this thing up in the first place! Looking back on that, I don’t even remember why I was trying to leave so quickly.

• People with problems should never be an inconvenience to me.
• People with problems should never be viewed as a disruption to my schedule.
• People with problems should never be avoided so I can get “my way.”

Time after time I have seen the weak left behind, the broken trampled and the bothered left alone. It isn’t easy to have patience with a person who has problems and hasn’t got it all together. Why do I know that? Because I finally realized I am one of those weak, broken bothered people.

• GOD wants me to empathize with the weak and hampered so HIS love can shine.
• GOD wants me to show compassion to the weary in order to help them remember HE loves them in spite of their circumstances.
• GOD wants me to serve the underserved to show them GOD hears their prayers and desperately loves them.

What about getting “my” way while I’m doing all this giving and serving? GOD specifically made me for HIS purpose to bear fruit for HIM. The more I make HIS way “my way” the more I can ask in the name of JESUS and get “my way.” Only GOD knows when I am “bearing fruit” because HE is the ONE who keeps track of what I do.

It’s up to me to “ask” for things GOD wants me to have and HE will give it to me in abundance. HE wants me to actually “love” people so that I can know what to ask for.

• Are you frustrated because you are asking GOD for things and not getting your way?
• Have you assessed the things you are asking for to see if it is “all about you?”
• When is the last time you have shown compassion, empathy and love for the underserved?
• Are you planning to bear fruit for GOD the way HE wants you to, knowing it may take you out of your comfort zone?

Another prayer for you

Philippians 1:  ⁹And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

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Dear HEAVENLY FATHER,

Right now it is difficult to see how great YOUR love is because I am focused on the world’s negativity. Political, economic and racial tension creates an atmosphere that breeds self medication through drugs, alcohol or sexual impurity. I feel so small when fighting the world.

LORD, I am not perfect so please help me help at least one person understand that YOU still care for them no matter how dark things may look.

• Help me discern what is best so that I can take my mind off of life’s negativity.
• Help me discern what is best so that I can see YOUR power instead of the world’s calamities.
• Help me discern what is best so that I can hear YOUR still quiet voice that gives me peace.
• Help me focus on YOU and not on me so that I can take one more step towards YOU.

Thank you JESUS for making me blameless. Please bless those who read and repeat these words.