Walk In Your Freedom! 6-28–26

Welcome to the word for the week. This week is an important week for those of us who live in the United States as we celebrate two hundred and fifty years as a free country. The time is truly longer than any of us currently alive can know about as none of us were here in the beginning. You know we are going somewhere so let’s get straight to the point. Over two thousand years we also were set free. The difference is one involves our country and the other involves you and I. One can only be celebrated by those who live in a particular place while the other can be celebrated by those around the entire world who are also believers in Christ. That means we are free in the sight of God. It means we now have liberty. However, the bible tells us not to use that liberty as an occasion to the flesh. (Galatians 5:13). That means we do not get to do whatever we want or however we want. In other words, do not use your freedom as a means to simply please your flesh and its desires.

Christ set us free on the cross. He did not deserve the cross but it was necessary for you and I. He paid for our freedom by His blood. He was laughed at, beat, ridiculed, criticized, and despised for our freedom but He did it for our good. What does that work mean to you two thousand years later? How has that price to set you free changed your life? As you read this can you honestly say you are different? If so, in what ways? What ways are you not different? It is easy to change the things you did not like to begin with. The real challenge is when you have to let go of something that matters to you. It is easy to say you love Jesus. Actions speak louder than words. Our freedom is not just in things that are spiritual. Jesus has set us free from the works of the flesh. We should not still be known for the things we used to do. We should be known by the works we currently do and who we now are.

Change does not just happen. You have to follow Christ to be changed. You have to want to be changed. You have to be willing to be a new you. The lies have to stop. The deceit has to end. The crooked ways have to become straight. The  life of no prayer has to become one of prayer. You cannot go where you used to go or do the things you used to do. You cannot hang out with people not interested in serving Christ just because. You have to understand your assignment. You have to recognize when the task at hand is for you or for someone else. Being free in your flesh also means being free in your mind. You cannot think like you used to. You cannot perceive like you used to. You cannot hear like you used to. You cannot see like you used to. What makes sense in the natural does not always make sense with God. In other words, something that looks harmless can be harmful to you.

Being free comes at a price on your end. The price to be free has been paid. The price to stay free will mean a life of living for God. You cannot pay for that on your own. You need the Holy Spirit to guide you on what to do and how to do it. You cannot reason about things like you normally do. You have to seek God for answers. This means things will take time. You will not wake up and simply have what you want. You will have to pray and believe like never before. You will have to go past being tired and dig down deeper. You have to focus on what God has for you in the outcome if you want to hold on. You cannot spend time complaining when you should be praying. This freedom means you can do the things God calls you to do. It means you do not have to look over your shoulders. It means you live already knowing you are victorious. There is no room to play the victim and there is no room to be sad as if you lost. Either you believe you are free or you do not. The choice is yours but never forget that the outcome of that choice belongs to the Lord. Choose wisely while you can!

May the Lord continue to bless and keep you in His grace,
Bishop Carlos J. Lennon