But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)
| Freedom by Cathy Vinson |
This is not always easy, especially for the brethren with the weak conscience, those who walk a very narrow path hewn in both sides by guilt and self-criticism. Life must follow predetermined actions. Any fluctuation opens up to the wide playing field of guilt. We might be those who watch others and try as they to laugh freely, speak freely, eat freely, spend freely, but do so with difficulty. There is always a yoke of slavery nearby. We may try hard to fit in a church or group by following written and unwritten norms, to be acceptable to a stern God, a demanding leader we idolize, or to just live up to the dictates of a weak conscience. Another way is to say we are legalistic. As the Pharisee, we tend to meet situations with "Is it lawful...?" We can limit life to a series of decisions between good and evil. Our life is described as "the man who does these things shall live IN them" (Gal 3:12). We search for life in our deeds rather than faith. What is our hope for the freedom Jesus brought? Our deliverance begins with knowing how much Jesus wants to set us free..."Come unto Me you who labor and are heavy laden..." (Think of how Galatians and Romans 7-8 were written with us in mind.) We already know we cannot stack up. The schoolmaster of the law has done his job well; we are ripened; we are ready for the sweet deliverance from ourselves through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 7:24). "It is GOOD for our heart to be strengthened by grace..." (Heb 13:9). We need a change of diet. We need to be fed and strengthed by grace rather than our works. Grace will teach us about the One who loves us not according to what we deserve. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free..." Freedom was a worthy goal in which to set our feet. It provides a roomy stance. Stand in it and stay in it as we "do not let ourselves be burdened" again. |
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| It is for
freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not let yourselves be
burdened with the yoke of slavery. (Gal 5:1)
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Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE
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