Good Morning Friends,
We have a challenge today. Our culture brings objections against Christianity. It is popular to object to Christianity because sometimes the truth of Christianity is painful…sometimes it is scary…sometimes it is unpleasant. It requires us to change. It requires us to balance privilege with responsibility. It requires us to give our best to God so that community would rule over chaos. It requires our faith in a destiny of a plan of salvation. Some people claim, “that it may be true for you, but it is not true for me,” and then rejecting the truth, come to the crazy conclusion that Christianity is not worth the effort. They do not comprehend that Christ has covered the cost of our liberty if we can but believe. But retaining liberty requires vigilance and persistence. So, Do You Understand The Ongoing Price Of Freedom?
Scripture: Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Amos 5:14-15, 21-24 (NRSV)
When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. Suddenly they shouted, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go!” So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off, and ongoing into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.
Matthew 8:28-34 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s lectionary passages from Amos and Matthew combine to shed some light on the challenge we have as a nation…as a world… when it comes to a balance of power and the demons that people face in the giving up perceived privilege before justice and righteousness might be served. The problem, or at least part of the problem is that the social change necessary and the cause and effect of our actions are removed from our conscious sight and so most lack a commitment to change. If we were to see abuses and injustice firsthand and were not blinded to the situation almost all of us would act in some fashion to stop the abuse or at least not support, it. Of course, there are bad apples and cases of the oppressed becoming the oppressors, so we must look at the whole clearly and act with a collective impact as advocates for what is right as a standard that really matches our values. The deal, when it comes to justice, is that we are not all guilty of injustice, however we all are responsible for fixing it and when we do, that is true freedom. Unfortunately, this is where we have a huge disconnect in our nation especially when it comes to issues of economics. We have a responsibility to know and to act in unity as advocates for each other and connect the dots. The crazy thing is that we trust corporations and government less and less and yet rely on them more and more. We need a new paradigm that deals with the deep historical roots of unresolved problems…that goes beyond Yelp and creates a culture of accountability for a common desire for both dignity and freedom. Unfortunately, we exhibit behavior and standards that really are at odds with our values. To align them we need God’s help in taking personal responsibility and that means getting rid of our demons…getting rid of our sins. We are not the first culture with the problem of slavery and abuses. We are not the first culture to dehumanize and commoditize people. Though things are getting better, justice still is more like a muddy puddle than an ever-flowing stream. Amos saw the injustice and oppression of the poor. It is amazing how in the time of Amos that the people were going to worship, praying, and counting on God to answer and provide for them, while not giving the slightest attention to doing right, or being obedient. Matthew tells the story about two demon possessed men that needed to be set free that gives us some insight into the problem. Jesus had just done a great deal of emotional and spiritual work and seemed to want to get away with His disciples perhaps to do some teaching. He had calmed the storm on the boat ride to a place called the Gergesenes. When they landed two men came to meet Him. They were possessed by demons. Interestingly it was the demons that recognized Jesus and begged Him for mercy. Apparently, the demons knew that Jesus would cast them out of the men. We see the complexity of the situation in today’s story from Matthew that shows forth the problem when the demon of despair grips us. We also see the simple solution. We see how the love of money and income and position gets in the way of our experiencing Jesus. We see the fascination with death and demons and the desire for power, bound by evil. We see how Jesus trumps everything. Friends, choices still have consequences. There is right and wrong, and we need to do the next right thing. But if we petition the Lord to provide us what we need, most of us have no need to enter the doorway for the depressed. Real freedom is found in Jesus. We are to invite Him to join us in the fight. We are to find the truth by holding to His teachings and obeying them. When we choose Jesus, He is the truth and the promise of life abundant that frees us from the bondage of sin. Friends, Jesus came to set the captives free. Here freedom is not a license to do as one pleases but rather a complete surrender to God and a transition to a life no longer alienated from God.
And So, most of us have known people who paid the ultimate price for freedom, but it is even more important that we know Jesus. Then we will more fully understand that freedom is precious and is a blessing worth fighting for spiritually and that to keep our freedom personally and collectively there is an ongoing price we must still pay. For freedom is fragile and requires perpetual vigilance. What was won by one generation can be lost by another. What took effort to obtain takes only a careless lack of concern to lose. But know this, the demon here is not external but internal that enslaves. So be on the lookout for a lack of reverence for God and actions that devalue human life and Christian values, or profit ahead of integrity, or self-indulgence instead of self-control. Tolerance of demons in our own lives in the name of mercy is a sign that what has been won through a hard fight can be easily lost. What applies to national freedom, also applies to the freedom Jesus gives. We must be spiritually watchful and persevere. Friends, freedom is not free. And though we honor those who died to bring us liberty, only Jesus truly sets us free from sin and fear and condemnation. Jesus calls us to a responsible, unselfish and moral freedom if we but believe. So what are you going to do about the freedom you have been given?
Pray that we commit to seek the truth. Pray that we commit to live the truth. Pray that we commit to believe the truth. Pray that we experience the uncommon freedom of grace. Pray that we realize that Jesus is in charge no matter what people believe. Pray that we realize He has authority over everything and will meet us wherever we are. Pray that we give our lives to the one who gave His life to us. Pray we realize that despite doubts and even moments of depression we each have a destiny as Christians. Pray that we give God the best, because when we do His grace abounds and we become free indeed. Pray we have freedom from sin. Pray we have freedom from legalism. Pray
we seek good not evil. Pray we realize that demons will plague us until their power is broken. Pray that dignity might prevail so that true freedom might be gained. Pray we reflect on what it means to truly be free in a way that glorifies God.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 