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Christian Freedom
FREEDOM
We Americans value our freedom. Over the weekend spend some time considering:
• The difference between freedom and anarchy.
• The ramifications and responsibilities of our political and societal freedom.
• The cost of our freedom.
How are you exercising your freedom? Are you exercising it well?
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CHRISTIAN FREEDOM
Paul wrote in the fifth chapter of Galatians, “For freedom Christ has set us free.”
There is a sense in which Paul means that you can go do whatever you want. The sense that he means is that according to your renewed nature in Christ you are free to do whatever you—that part of you that is renewed in Christ—want to do.
What is it a nature renewed in Christ wants to do? Paul summarized that in this way. “Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:13-14)
How are you exercising your Christian freedom? Are you exercising it well?
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UNNECESSARY HUNGER?
In a recent Bible reading something struck me.
I was reading about the widow of Zarephath (I Kings 17) and how Elijah came to her during a time of famine. She did not have much food left; in fact she was going to make one more meal for her son and herself and then die. But the word of God came to her through the prophet Elijah. God called her instead to give some food to Elijah and trust God to provide. God gave her a very specific promise.
She believed the promise. She acted on the promise. She saw God’s faithfulness. Her hunger was met.
What would have happened had she not believed God’s word? What would have happened if she had continued in her own way of thinking and living?
She would have gone hungry. Unnecessarily.
Is there a word from God that you are not trusting? Is it leading to an unnecessary hunger?