Freedom

17. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 10:32 ”Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34 ”Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law– 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 ”Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 40 ”He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”  

Our text today closes out the mission of the disciples given by Jesus.  Today, the text focuses on not being ashamed of Jesus.   Often times, we are afraid to let people know that we are Christians let alone share our faith.   Jesus is clear in this passage that if we acknowledge Him before men then Jesus will acknowledge us before our Father in Heaven and if we disown Him before men then He will do likewise before God.   Most scholars agree that this is speaking about the Day of Judgment.  If we are going to be Christians then we are obligated to embrace our faith both privately and publicly.   

Jesus then makes it clear that He did not come so that everyone would get along.  The gospel of Jesus Christ will cause division in homes because one will stand up for Christ and another may embrace other theologies or choose to be an agnostic or an atheist which will create enemies in your own home.  Jesus is clear that we can not love family members more to the point that we will compromise our Faith.  God is first.    

Jesus then makes an interesting claim.  “He that finds his life will lose it and he that loses his life for the sake of the gospel will find it.”   Jesus is basically saying that if you are trying to hold on to your life and live by the world standards then you will lose it in eternity but those that are willing to endure and suffer for the gospel’s sake then you will find what true life really is and live with Him in eternity.     

Be clear:  God has a wonderful plan for our lives and does want us to enjoy the abundant life of this world but there is pain and suffering that comes with being a Christian.    While we know that pain and suffering does not escape anyone whether Christian or not   there is a “cross” to bear with living for God.  Jesus is clear that if we do not take up our cross we are not worthy to be called Christians.   I’m sorry,  I can’t clean it up for you.  These are the facts. 

Now, I do not want to leave you in a doom and gloom mode with this text.  The text actually ends very encouraging by letting us know that if we receive a prophet or a righteous man then we will receive the rewards that go with that.   

Being Christian is freedom.  It is liberating.  A lot of the bondage that we are experiencing as Christians is not biblical.  It is self inflicted, it is through erroneous doctrine, bad leaders, people who will not commit to study and just teach anything and the hearers who will not research the scriptures to see if what we are being taught is correct and is taught in the right context. 

While I do see much bad that happens across this world in our pulpits, I also see much good.  It is our responsibility to search the scriptures to make sure we are being taught correctly. The average Christian never goes over the Sunday or Bible study message to make sure it is in line with the truth of scripture nor do we question our leaders when we feel something is wrong.  Good leaders love for their congregations to be astute enough in the word to raise issues and to challenge them.  It keeps them grounded and it helps their study life and we will get a better quality of ministry from them because they know we are checking.   Good leaders want the type of church that Paul often bragged about; the Bereans who after Paul taught them they searched the scriptures to see if it be so.   

I understand bondage, I have been there for many, many years but the personal study of the scriptures carries with it a freedom that words cannot express.   Equip yourselves with God’s word and no one can ever put you in bondage, make you feel inferior, or make you lose purpose or feel you don’t have one.  Jesus has set us free and He whom the son sets free is free indeed. 

Live your life and live it freely.  

Have a great weekend.

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

God Bless!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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