"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (Galations 5:13)
As this quarter comes to a close, I read this familiar passage. Most people think of, "liberty," as a license to do anything, any time, as in "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Bible says no to this interpretation. "....Liberty [is] an opportunity [to] serve...." I might say that then, and only then, will one find "life, liberty, and...happiness."
Most humans throughout history have used liberty only to serve themselves. The kings of Europe and Czarist Russia might still have descendants as heads of state if they had just served others rather than themselves. I could say the same about the Catholic Church. But, alas, the leadership of the Church in the 14th to 16th centuries chose to be served rather than to serve. Could they not have at least considered 10 of Luther's 95 Thesis ?!?
Jesus told the disciples that He was among them, "as one who serves." Today's later New Testament reading had me in Revelation 14, "Then I looked, and be hold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown...." Then I look in Luke 2 and see this same, "Son of Man," in an animal stall, a far cry from the golden palaces of ancient kings, "You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger," sort of like this one:
Yes, my friend, the scene may have looked very similar to this one.
Yet from the Throne of the Universe, surrounded by cherubim and seraphim, the angelic hosts, safe from the very precarious fragility of earthly life, to the manger of Bethlehem He came, surrounded by lowly shepherds and animals, lying there that night just like this baby; "Only His great Eternal Love made my Savior go."
"Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I desire to more perfectly manifest the Babe of Bethlehem. Amen.
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Briefing on recent mission, January 16th, 19:00. Let us know if you will be attending.
As this quarter comes to a close, I read this familiar passage. Most people think of, "liberty," as a license to do anything, any time, as in "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." The Bible says no to this interpretation. "....Liberty [is] an opportunity [to] serve...." I might say that then, and only then, will one find "life, liberty, and...happiness."
Most humans throughout history have used liberty only to serve themselves. The kings of Europe and Czarist Russia might still have descendants as heads of state if they had just served others rather than themselves. I could say the same about the Catholic Church. But, alas, the leadership of the Church in the 14th to 16th centuries chose to be served rather than to serve. Could they not have at least considered 10 of Luther's 95 Thesis ?!?
Jesus told the disciples that He was among them, "as one who serves." Today's later New Testament reading had me in Revelation 14, "Then I looked, and be hold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown...." Then I look in Luke 2 and see this same, "Son of Man," in an animal stall, a far cry from the golden palaces of ancient kings, "You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger," sort of like this one:
Yes, my friend, the scene may have looked very similar to this one.
Yet from the Throne of the Universe, surrounded by cherubim and seraphim, the angelic hosts, safe from the very precarious fragility of earthly life, to the manger of Bethlehem He came, surrounded by lowly shepherds and animals, lying there that night just like this baby; "Only His great Eternal Love made my Savior go."
"Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I desire to more perfectly manifest the Babe of Bethlehem. Amen.
********************
Briefing on recent mission, January 16th, 19:00. Let us know if you will be attending.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
