Do You Know The Difference Between Liberty, Freedom and Independence?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is Memorial Day and we remember the fallen heroes who left behind widows and widowers, and sons and daughters…. friends and family. Some of us are filled with guilt, fear, anger and worry in response to the evil of war. Sometimes it is undoubtedly appropriate to fight but even then, acting out of those emotions is a recipe for disaster. Sure, the Holy Spirit should move us in sorrow in the face of evil, but at the core of what we feel should be faith and love. We are to become less and less tolerant of violence. Then there is a rare brand of people that face a reality of being unsure whether they will live to see the end of the day. They are unsure whether they will live and this shapes the life and love they share with those close to them. They work as a team under authority…deployed to dangerous territory. Confronted with the same reality that Jesus faced…a fight, they can only hope that they too have been sent by God. Most of them learn the answer to today’s question under the pressure of war. Do You Know The Difference Between Liberty, Freedom and Independence?
Scripture: Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NRSV)
So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36 (NRSV)
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14 (NRSV)
I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.
Psalm 119:45 (NRSV)
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
Luke 7:1-10 (NRSV)
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NRSV)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)
Message: The etymology of words makes it difficult to answer today’s question, but in a theological sense we are going to give it a try. You see, Jesus demonstrates in his life that liberty involves a person’s free will in the face of systems that devalue human dignity, that liberty is freedom from the effects of sin, by choosing spiritual servitude, instead of a worldly path. The thing is that when every moment counted…when every word was carefully chosen, when Jesus faced the issues of liberty, freedom and independence he used the word love to focus our attention. He tells us to love with all our hearts, minds and souls. And we must do it out of free will to be true to ourselves. So, in this context, independence is the freedom to choose who one is going to follow matching to the constraints of one’s liberty. Here liberty is freedom to choose clear values, freedom to maintain love for our neighbors, live with value for one’s belief in God. So real independence is liberty with positive constraints. So, with that in mind and in memory of those who have fallen, choose love today… love every day. Love like Jesus. Love the outcast. Love with abundance, love honestly and love blindly. Love by helping people look in the mirror. Love by humbly serving. Love one’s enemies with tough love. Love by giving your very life. That is how much Jesus loved. Friends, Jesus demonstrates how love, faith and leadership, are related to liberty, freedom and independence. Here on this Memorial Day, as we remember those who have died, we see an amazing example of the power of love that extends across all barriers of culture, time and geography. Here we see the dynamics of leadership that is powered by trust in Christ. Here we experience love in the middle of a fight. Friends, we do not need an empty and systematic way of understanding feelings. We need today, the Prince of Peace to give us freedom from sin. So today we search for identity, meaning and truth in our culture’s practice of looking out on thousands of white crosses on green fields. But we are drawn to the one cross that can make a difference in our understanding…the Cross of Jesus.
Pray we are free to love. Pray we have faith and love in Christ’s leadership. Pray we too offer more grace than judgment. Pray we hear, feel and see Jesus’ new command. Pray we respond to the urgent call of Jesus when in the fight of our lives. Pray for the one thing that demonstrates the worthiness of leadership…. the one thing that counts for success…. Pray for love, because then, when we love, they will know we are Christians.
Pray when we are offered peace, we embrace it to honor those who have died. Pray we remember those faithful who have fallen in battle, but then turn the focus our energies on Jesus. Pray we remember that spiritual battles are also about control and power. Pray we see the light and remember for a purpose. Pray we are victorious. Pray we find Peace in our hearts. Pray that our sorrow would grieve God enough to provide the hope of His Son.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 