"FREE TO BE FREE"

With the release of some of the hostages of late, our hopes are for others held in Lebanon to also be set free. We should also pray for their adjustment to freedom, because after being held for months and even years, overwhelms ones sensitivity to simple things they used to take for granted. Nevertheless, we join the families of hostages in our continuing to pray for their safety and soon release. Like their loved ones, we believe freedom is worth dying for if necessary.

Spiritual freedom presents similar challenges. There is a certain comfort in being in captivity. To be driven by ambition, fear and pride at least provides direction and movement to one's life. Most decisions are dictated by any 'master' which hold us captive. One of the metaphors of what God did for us at Calvary, is redemption and ransom. With His blood Jesus bought our freedom. We were slaves, then purchased from the trading block by a new master so we could give our living service to Him. He calls us to be creative in loving others, to take full responsibility for our own actions. He does not spoon-feed us and chew up every bite of spiritual food for us so it will go down easy. He has made provisions for us to suffer for His name sake, in order to tested and tried in the fiery trials of life. He does not dictate our every thought and action, He calls upon us to serve Him in love because He first loved us. He does tell us if we are to come-over and live with Him in heaven, throughout eternity, we are to over-come while living upon this earth!

Legalism always provides a structure and freedom from responsibility. Those religious groups who offer the security of mind control have failed to encounter Jesus of Nazareth. A lawyer came asking Jesus for specific boundaries for loving one's neighbor.  There is comfort in being treated like children also.  Jesus told a story instead, the parable of the Good Samaritan.  He then asked the lawyer which man proved neighbor to the injured man.  When the man correctly answered Jesus then said, "Now you go and do something like that". These words did not offer the comfort of detailed and prescribed instructions, but the full challenge of freedom for him to experience. Our Lord promises that the ordeal of freedom with Him is more than worth the pain of us trying to keep ourselves bound by the letter of legalism. Dare to be free.... Free to speak, Free to think, Free as sons, Free in Christ!

Yours for Truth and Freedom......Horace Hooper