Free or Not?

So if the Son makes you free, you will be truly free. [John 8:36 NCV]

Last Sunday, Casey Anthony became a free woman. She had been detained in jail until a jury agreed that she was not guilty of the murder charge against her and voted to acquit her. The judge agreed with the jury’s decision and released her based on time served for the other charges. Some feel she was guilty and others feel she was not but when it came time to convict or acquit, she was acquitted by the justice system. The system we have in place to make decisions like that.

There is another side to her story, a side that was not presented in court or in the news media. A part of her life that investigators never questioned her about that I know of. They never asked her if she believed in Jesus or not as far as I know. Someone off the camera or off the record may have witnessed to her or prayed with her, who knows. If she has never asked Christ to save her, forgiving her of her sins, she is still not free. She may not be behind prison bars or in the confines of a jail cell, but she is still in bondage. She may not even realize it as millions of people never do. They feel they are not in bondage to anyone as the Pharisees told Jesus. Spiritual bondage is deceptive. One can be held in sin never realizing the hold it has on them. I never realized it. I was in bondage under sin for over thirty years and the entire time never knowing it. I thought I could change anytime I wanted to, perhaps in my final hours. It was not until I came to know Jesus just how deceived I had been. I finally came to my senses as the prodigal did in the pig pen and came to the Father for forgiveness, and the Blood of Christ freed me! I hope Casey understands that freedom is not being out of jail, but being justified by the Blood of Christ. Having all charges dropped against us by His work on the Cross! How about you? You may be in jail or on the street but if you have never allowed Christ to set you free from sin; you are still in bondage. Allow the Son to set you free; and be truly free!

Endure

Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. [Hebrews 12:3 NLT]

A glutton, a winebibber, a lunatic, a demon possessed heretic. Just some of the things many of the people said Jesus was. He fed thousands with a little boy’s lunch, He made better wine than they had at a wedding party for the guests to drink; He confounded the Rabbis’ when He was just a boy. He cast out demons from those possessed by them. So how could they say all those things about Him? The human nature of people has not changed since that day in Eden. You remember; the day the devil lied on God. Ever since then the devil has been working to convince sinful people that Jesus is of no importance. As the human race has been given more knowledge by God and greater tools of research that we might discover even more truths about Him; the devil is still working to convince us it is all a lie. Jesus told His first followers, “If they hate you it is because they hated Me first.” Did you know that because you are a follower of Christ you are automatically an offence to a non believer? You may try your best to show them love and respect but they still consider you an enemy. It is not anything you have done personally but Who it is that lives in you. Jesus rubbed people the wrong way. They either came to accept His message of Gods forgiveness for their hostility toward God, or they had nothing to do with Him at all. People who do not like to be told the truth about themselves find justification in their animosity toward God by transferring their feelings toward Him upon His followers. You have not done anything to them but yet they are hostile toward you. Saying things about you such as; “he’s a goodie good,” or perhaps, “She’s a hypocrite, I know who she really is.” Many say the same thing to us as they said to Jesus; “Who do you think you are?” When Jesus commanded us to “bless those that curse us” it was for our benefit; not theirs. If the enemy can convince us to quit turning the other cheek and hate them just as they hate us, he has once again accomplished his goal of smearing Gods reputation among earthlings. Jesus never showed hostility toward anyone but He never quit showing the love of God to them either. We live in a world that is still hostile toward Christ so don’t expect it to treat His followers any different. Endure it; as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Not Independence From God

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. (The Declaration of Independence)

Fifty six men from fifteen states signed this document of declaration under the belief that it was the will of God for them to be free. They had appealed to the Supreme Judge of the world that they might be religiously correct (rectitude) in making their decision. They prayed about it. Apparently they felt it was okay with God to proceed. They ended the document testifying that they were depending on God (divine Providence) to help them in their endeavor. Obviously, He did. I may be “preaching to the choir” here today but you and I both know it was never the intent of our Founding Fathers to separate God from Government. "The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: 'It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." [President John Adams, July 4, 1821].

So those now who live by faith are blessed along with Abraham, who lived by faith—this is no new doctrine! And that means that anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. [Galatians 3:9 The Message].

Enjoy your Independence from Britain today. Celebrate your liberty handed down to you by the men and women before you; many giving their lives to purchase it and maintain it. Give thanks to God, the Supreme Judge, today for your Country. Pray for those in harms way today who still defend Her! Know that God made it all possible.

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. [Psalm 103:2 New Living Translation].

Smell This.

Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God. (2 Corinthians 2:15 The Message)

During my “walk with God” this morning along the New River Trail it seems that my olfactory receptors were at their optimum performance today. In other words, I smelled a lot of stuff that I generally do not pay attention to. I love to smell the honeysuckle, the pine, and cedar smells that hang in the air along the route. As I was thinking about what the topic for the devotion would be today I walked past a field of cattle and the smell of cow pies seemed overwhelming! Several of them were at the fence grazing in the early morning shade and one was chewing and mooing as I walked past. I stopped to see what the big deal was about and the thought hit me; wonder what I smell like to God? I remembered reading somewhere in the Bible that we are called sheep, but I cannot remember ever being referred to as a cow. I know God is good at using what is available to teach us so she would suffice for my daily lesson. I sit down on the bench that just happens to be in the perfect location for cattle watching and pie smelling to get gravel out of my shoe. As I sat there meditating, smelling, and listening this verse came to mind. Not in the text of The Message, but rather as I have read in my New King James; we are the aroma of life to some, and the aroma of death to others, but to God we are the fragrance, (smell or aroma), of Christ. Gee! I smell sweet to God! When I asked Christ to save me, He washed me of my sin and clothed me in His righteousness. The stench of death which is attached to sin had been removed as the sweet smell of eternal life permeated my soul. When God takes a whiff of me now He smells the lingering fragrance of His Son upon me!

You may smell like Aqua Velva, Old Spice, or Obsession today in the physical, but if you have put on Christ you smell sweet to your heavenly Father! I was a real stinker to Him at one time so I am glad today that Jesus never turned His nose up at me, and He will not turn His nose up at you either. Man, I am glad He never created me to be a Tumblebug.

Character or Hypocrit?

Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. ~ Psalm 105:19 (NLT)

An old gentleman came everyday to the nursing home to hand feed his wife that had Alzheimer’s, her lunch. One day a nurse asked him why he came and did that for her because she had no idea who he was. He replied, “I do it because I know who she is.”

Character; the Hebrew terms used in this verse mean the act of refining; a process in which dross is separated from silver so that you end up with a pure substance. Our English dictionaries have one definition that states that character is a distinguishing feature or attribute. My definition of character is simple; it is the real you. It is who you are when no one is watching. It is what you actually think and not what you actually say. It is who you really are in Christ; not just who you want others to think you are. Joseph was tested with time and trials. Wait upon the Lord the Bible says. I have a tough time waiting at red lights. We live in a drive through world. Pull up to the speaker, order, go to the window and pay, pull up to the next window and get the bag of grub. We want it right and we want it right now. This attitude has crept into our faith. Dr. Luke tells us that many times people were healed immediately. The Apostle Paul tells us that his eyes were never completely healed after being blinded. Commitment and character go hand in hand. Joseph was committed to God, Jesus was committed to God, and Paul was committed to God. All three had their character tested. They did not go on Facebook and complain about their problems as to seek sympathy or glory for their situations. They endured as good soldiers of God. Paul said, “I thank God for my weaknesses, because in them His strength is glorified!” Character is the fruit of commitment. Hypocrisy is the fruit of fake commitment. Joseph never became bitter because of his situation. Paul never blamed his teachers for not teaching him the truth. Jesus never blamed us for having to go to the Cross. It was not my fault He had to die for my sins; He died for me because He loves me and was committed to redeeming me. His character was without flaw because His obedience was without flaw. His commitment never waivered. His love never diminished. Joseph was a type Christ. He was falsely accused, punished unjustly, and yet showed mercy to his enemies.

Are you up against it today? Maybe God is testing your commitment. Maybe He is testing your character.

He Has The Right

{Matthew 9:5 NKJV}

For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? Which is easier? Jesus posed this question after a scribe accused Him of blasphemy, a crime which was punishable by death according to the Law of Moses. Of course it is easier to say your sins are forgiven. For how can anyone say of another that his or her sins have actually been forgiven? How can we know for sure that even our own sins have been forgiven? We believe they have by faith; the faith we have in God and His word. When Jesus told the man his sins were forgiven He was taking on the authority of God. For only God has the authority and the right to forgive sin. We can forgive trespasses against each other but we cannot forgive others trespasses against God! We have no right to give absolution of someone else’s sin regardless of who we are in Christ. We do have the authority given to us by Jesus to preach Gods word and tell others that HE can and will forgive them. Jesus proved that day that He really does have the authority to forgive sin. When He told the man to arise and walk the people knew immediately that only God could do that. A teacher of the Law, Nicodemus, would make the statement; “We know You are from God for no one could do the works You do unless God was WITH him.” Forgiveness of sin takes place in the heart, out of sight of man. Physical healing is done right in front of our eyes. Because someone is not healed physically does not mean their sins have not been forgiven and because someone is healed physically does mean their sins have been forgiven. Even before Jesus died on the Cross that our sins may be forgiven He forgave this man. He could do that because He knew the Cross was ahead of Him. If you need your sins forgiven then come to Christ and ask Him. He will say to you just as He said to that man; “Arise and walk.” Arise and walk in your new life! Your sins have been forgiven! I say that not on my authority, but on the Authority of the Almighty God. We walk by faith, not by sight.

He Is Willing

“I am willing; be cleansed.” [Matthew 8:3 NKJV]

I wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot pole. You have heard that before haven’t you? I am not sure where it originated from but if that idiom existed in the Aramaic language I am sure people were saying it about lepers. They were the outcasts of society. People believed that if you were stricken with leprosy you had done something awful and God was punishing you for it as He had been known to do. What if we took that same way of thinking and applied it to cancer? All who have it did something that caused God to put it on them. No, sin brought disease upon the body and God did not bring sin into the world. As a society we do not avoid those with cancer but do our best to treat them. As Christians many of us lay hands on them, anoint them with oil, and pray for them. We certainly do not marginalize them as outcasts. Jesus changed their way of thinking by healing lepers. I can imagine someone in the crowd saying, “He touched him! He touched him! He touched that leper!”

It was not the physical ailments Jesus was so much concerned with because He knew the body would die anyway at some point. He healed their physical bodies so their suffering would be eliminated. He demonstrated His power over disease that we may know He has power over sin. We can define uncleanness several ways but the way God defines it has to do with our spiritual condition. A diseased soul is much worse than a diseased body. The body eventually dies; the soul never will. Our lesson is not to marginalize the sin laden souls but rather to embrace them and allow Jesus to touch them through us. What an honor to have someone say of you, “Look, look, he is talking to a sinner!” Look, look, she is praying for that drug addict!” Remember Jesus touched us when we were unclean and He is still willing to cleanse others!