Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 1-217

JESUS MEANS FREEDOM

From 'Sunrise Sunset' (HarperCollins/Harper San Francisco), Rowland Croucher's book of daily meditations. Feel free to use or adapt it.

You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 8:32.

Most in our world do not enjoy full political and civil freedoms. That is, they cannot participate in bringing about changes in their government, or speak or worship freely. In Biblical times, however, slaves were totally owned by their masters. But slavery can mean many things...

Into this world of 'slaves whose wills are free' comes the Son of God promising deliverance from all the sinful, selfish or religious entanglements in our lives. Jesus liberates us to become his servants and co-redeemers. Service for him is 'perfect freedom', the ultimate liberation.

Read: John 8:31-41. Finding religious security in something other than a personal relationship with God is a very common problem. These Jews said 'We're OK as children of Abraham.' Today it might be 'I believe all the right doctrines, belong to the right church, partake of the sacraments, follow the best leader...'

Meditate: There are many captivities. Everyone is a slave to something: money, sex, power, ambition, others' adulation, addictive substances, religious bigotry... What are mine?

In our prayer, identify the things that are meant to be fulfilling, but can cause us to be 'driven'. Name the entities which, though good in themselves, can be abused and create unfreedoms. Let us ask for strength to renounce addictions, easy formulas which save us from the hard work of thinking too much, or legalisms which result in our being known more for what we don't believe than what we do believe. 'Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free.' Amen.

Shalom! Rowland Croucher <> Director, John Mark Ministries: counseling and consulting services for pastors, ex-pastors, church leaders and managers. http://jmm.aaa.net.au (5400+ articles) http://priscillasfriends.org/ (Pastors' wives)