Free at Last!

Galatians 5

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.


Slavery has been abolished for over 146 years in America. So, you might think this verse is meaningless to us today. We may not have slavery as it was early in American History, but we do have slavery. It may even be more prevalent now than it ever has. Are you free to do whatever you want? More importantly, are you free to do whatever God is calling you to do? In our country we have so many people enslaved by their circumstances. Even our own country is a slave to it's debt. How can we be critical of our country's debt problems when many of us have the same problems.


We are slaves to our jobs, our salaries, our homes, our cars, and a multitude of other possessions. We are slaves to things that are not of God, but things that are of this world. Be honest, how many of you, if God asked, could give up our salaried career in service to him. What you possess says more about your heart and relationship with God than what you say.


I am no different than most of you. My finances are getting better. They do not have as big a control on me as they once did. But, I have some distance to go. I find that , more and more, my decisions are made from the heart instead of the desire for more stuff.  The things important to me are centered on God, Family and service to him. As my heart continues to draw closer to God, he is able to remove the shackles and set me free. Thank You Lord!

Can't we all just get along?

Titus 3

 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.



When you think of a devisive person, does anyone specific come to mind? Unfortunately, I can think of several examples. Our country is full of divisive people and issues. We have a tendency to spend more time on the things that divide us. We share so many common goals and opinions but they always get lost in the arguments and quarrels.

A good example right now is the republican race to be the presidential candidate. Really, all the candidates are the same. They might speak different, look different, and have different backgrounds. But, they are all the same. Yet, they spend so much time and money tearing each other down. By the time the final election is complete, we will hate all of them. What a way to choose the leader of our country.

Can't we just get along. Christians can be much the same way. We, too, spend a lot of time bashing one church's rituals or another. It hurts the message. Let's stop it and concentrate on the one thing that binds us together.........Jesus Christ. We are all saved by his grace and mercy. We can all agree on that! It's not the method of baptism, it is Christ. We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord! Let's act like it, for a change!

Intense Enthusiasm!

Galatians 4

 ¹⁸ It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 


Do you know anyone who is one Zealous? The Definition of Zealous is: filled with or inspired by intense enthusiasm or zeal; ardent; fervent. Do you know anyone who is Zealous for Christ? To my sadness, I can't think of anyone. I know people who are zealous for their football teams, college basketball teams, television shows, hobbies, and past times. But, I can't bring anyone to mind that is intensely enthusiastic for Christ. In reality we should all be enthusiastic and intense about what Christ did for us. He DIED for us. He gave up being God to come down to Earth and save us from the evil within us. He has done miracle after miracle in my life. He has done those same miracles throughout history. Yet, We can get more enthused about IU Basketball than the Savior of the World. I don't have to look further than the mirror to know that's true. 


Dear Lord, Forgive me for not being more zealous for you and for what you have done in my life. Please forgive me for my weak faith. i love you. Help me to share my enthusiasm for life with others. Help me to share your enthusiasm for me and my life. Praise God you care even when I don't. Amen!

Faith alone! Christ alone!

Galatians 3

 23 Before the coming of this faith,[j] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.


Faith is everything. Faith is everything,everything, everything!

When I accepted Christ, it was by faith. I was a new teenager at Camp Adventure United c
Methodist church camp. I knew nothing of Christ apart from faith. It was only after my acceptance by faith, that works started to take over my faith. I'm not sure how that happened. I started to feel I had to do things in order to earn my place in eternity. Now that I've gotten older, I understand more clearly. In all my efforts to be "good enough" or "successful enough", I am finally seeing faith emerge as the only thing.

It is my faith in Jesus Christ,nothing else, that saves me. I can't and don't even need to try to work for my salvation. It is a gift received through faith alone. Praise God!

Don't just absorb stuff!

Titus 1

 ¹ Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— ² in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, ³ and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,

What is your purpose in life? These verses contend it is pretty simple. One of you main goals is to further the faith and knowledge of God's elect. So many people thing their job is to take up space in a church pew and absorb stuff! We are responsible for making sure their knowledge improves. We need them to know and understand the truth.

It's so easy to over complicate God's mission. You can't do that with this method. Share, love, pray and study to increase your own faith. In turn, that will draw them to your faith.