Freedom...is coming





Freedom.

It is a word that I immediately associate with 1863 in this country.  This was the year that Abraham Lincoln signed a piece of legislation that eventually freed the slaves once the Confederacy joined back with the Union at  the conclusion of the Civil War.

Freedom is a gift.  Freedom appears in the Bible to tell us that it is one of God's creations as it appears in Galatians 5.

"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." (v. 1)

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself." If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (v. 13-15)

We have been freed to love and to serve, tending to the needs of those around us.  However, it can be difficult to serve if we ourselves are in bondage and we become crippled.  I often think of addictions in this respect, a slave to sins.  There are easy ones to point out: drugs, alcohol, and sex.  However, some individuals like to throw these around as if they are the only addictions in existence.  There are also addictions to food, entertainment, work....

The first step is to be freed, and to realize that as the world may judge you for these addictions, Jesus will not.  He instills the principles of faith, hope, and love that restores us to God's original intention for our lives.

Finally, once we are freed, we get the incredible opportunity to have a front row seat in LIBERATION!  Yes, we get to see others break their bonds of addiction.  Or more literally, we may even get to be involved in setting people free from the bondage of other people.

IJM is an organization based in the US that empowers individuals around the world to stand up for the rule of law that bans slavery.  Slavery often happens in areas where disorganization breeds opportunity, where there is no threat of prosecution upon committing these crimes.  IJM empowers police systems as well as court systems to arrest and subsequently prosecute slave drivers and brothel owners.  While this does bring justice to the oppressed, it also acts as a deterrent for future slavery.  IJM is out to "rescue thousands, but protect millions".

What does freedom mean to you? How do you respond to your freedom?