joy

Word of the Week

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Free–

Freedom is put into the wrong category these days. It is a selfish attempt to get what we want and be the center of our own little world. This week is a call beyond selfish ambition to step into the freedom of God. He calls us to four things to reflect on from His perspective.

1. Free from anxiety–There are so many things which constantly catch and grab our attention. A lot of them are vain trifles. In reference to an earlier post, a flea, versus what really matters most. Which is the will of God and seeking only what He wants and desires. Doing all things for His pleasure and not our own.

2. Free from the Devil’s power–He does exist. C.S. Lewis has this important quote. “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (originally 1942; this edition: Harper Collins, 1996) ix. He is simple to deal with because he is subject to the authority of Jesus Christ and has already lost the battle. The next is the harder to deal with.

3. Free from hardness of heart–That means letting go of our own ideas and embracing God’s. It means detaching from our way and sin to choosing to do good. It means repentance. It means opening our hands to what God has for us and receiving both blessing and suffering. Jesus cast out many demons but He encountered far more thousands of hardened hearts. Those who just wanted to be fed physically instead of spiritually, cured physically but not transformed wholly. He met many that would not obey His commands and amend their lives to follow His Way and let go of their own. Here is the challenge: can I let go of my own way and ideas to embrace God’s?

4. Free to Love–God is so wondrous we cannot even stand His Glory without death. The Israelites call out, “Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.” So God has compassion on us and sends us an intermediary. He sends us Jesus Christ like us in all things but sin. He is our very brother. We must listen to His Word and follow in the way He marks out for us. This way of life is one lived in love, putting the needs of others first before our own. This does not mean we don’t take care of our own needs because Jesus also calls us to love ourselves. To put into context what Jesus wants (His ultimate love was the cross,) think of this acronym; JOY. Jesus Others You. It means free to love and be in a relationship with Jesus and others.

(Deuteronomy 18:15-20 Psalm 95:1-2,6-9 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 Mark 1:21-28)

Walking

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It is no wonder that we have a disconnect sometimes with our emotions and what we live. The litmus test is if we are following the command of God. We say that we want unity and that we want to be close to Him, yet what are we doing to truly be in that state? We know we are in unity with Christ when we walk and are willing to walk the same walk of faith. What is this walk? To answer this question we have to meditate on the life of Christ. We cannot walk or even be intimate unless we do this. We cannot have knowledge of Him unless we stay with Him and spend time with Him.

What are some basics to know if we are on the right path? Abandonment to what God has for us. That flexibility to receive life’s blows or blessings. Are we following what is commanded of us? Grace and kindness compassion. Do we have the fruits of the Spirit with His gifts? Embracing suffering as well as joy and keeping steady progress. Am I living a life of up and down or I am at least striving for consistency? We will be be handed many things and some days will be better than others. The secret is walking with God.