Judges 2:7 – “So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.”  NKJV

There was an old country preacher that I knew who often said regarding the presence of God, “It is better felt than telt…”  I love feeling the presence of God and basking in the sunlight of His presence, power, and love.  And, as I reflect on that preacher’s words, I find there is something in it worthy of consideration regarding experience.  I personally, do not want to ever reach the place where I base my relationship with God on an emotional experience, but I never want to discount or discontinue that either.  I long to make my permeant residence In His Presence here and in eternity.

In this particular passage, there is a realization that is important in life.  I have heard about some of the great revivals of days gone by but did not experience many of them.  However, I have been in the presence of God and had some incredible experiences and witnessed some powerful moves of God’s Spirit that lasted long in churches, communities, and people.  I have been a part of some of the more modern revivals. I treasure those experiences.  However, who among us is not cognizant of the fact that historical experiences we did not participate in do not captivate us as those we did?  

This passage reveals that so long as Joshua the Moses mentored leader who lead the nation into the Promised Land and the elders who were also eyewitnesses lived God Reigned in the hearts of the people.  When they died, there were no longer those who had experiential first-hand knowledge of God’s mighty deliverance and fulfilling His promise to bring them to the Land of Milk and Honey.  When experience died there was a gradual erosion of commitment and a turning away or growing cold in dedication.

Every revival of the church lasted until the generation that witnessed and experienced it died and then it began to wane.  The fervor and fire of that revival kept the Church on track in pursuing the truth that revival revealed and/or restored but when there were none who had experienced it around those who had heard about it could not embrace it with the same devotion nor feel the same compulsion to comply with the directives of the Spirit of God. 

It became theoretical rather than experiential.  Sadly, many call themselves Christian in much the same way, theoretical rather than experiential.  We talk about God being able to “do all things” but if we have not witnessed or experienced His miraculous it is, to us, theory and when the chips are down, we cannot stand on the promise with confidence.

I know some who grew up in Church and in homes where there was a fervent dedication to God, prayer was a staple, and the Bible was the guide.  They heard about it from their parents and grandparents but never truly experienced it for themselves and as those who had the experience received their eternal promotion the devotion and practices that kept the fire burning waned and diminished.  That reminds me of the truth that “You cannot get to heaven on Mama or Papa’s faith or experience.” 

Christianity is a personal experience and relationship, not something that is inherited like property.  Growing up going to church may help you establish some important moral principles and ethics but will not save your soul.  The fact that Mama or Papa had their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life does not automatically inscribe yours there.  It is an individual and personal experience.  “If we (each individual) confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” 

Experience or having a spiritual encounter with God personally is incredibly valuable in helping us to resist temptation and maintain our dedication as we “seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.”   If you do not personally know Jesus, I urge you to go into your prayer closet and call upon Him in repentance and receive His pardon and grace transforming you from darkness unto light.  Jesus has promised that if Anyone will call upon Him, He will not reject us.  Today is the day of salvation and now is the accepted time.  Experience God for yourself and the Bible will no longer be a theory but reality.

God bless you as you open the door to today with all its problems, promises, and potential.  Have a Great Day!

Proverbs 12:25 – “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.”  NKJV

We have all had times when we either received an encouraging word or gave one.  Through the years I have had people tell me, “You just don’t know how much what you said meant to me.”  I have often been completely unaware that I said anything of particular significance but somehow the Holy Spirit directed my words to be the right word at the right time for the right situation to produce the right result.  I have received words of encouragement in the same manner.  Through those situations, I have come to deeply appreciate the power of a word of encouragement.

When a person begins to succumb to anxiety, fear, frustration, or worry it brings depression and weighs down the heart.  It is like carrying a load that you cannot see but can feel and it exhausts physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  It will sap your strength and propel you into the darkness and if not checked can lead to self-pity which is incredibly destructive. 

David said in Psalm 94:19, “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy consolations delight my soul.”  Jesus urged us in John 14 to reject a troubled heart by focusing on His promise and provision.  Encouragement is incredibly powerful because it enables a person to combat discouragement and renews a sense of worth and significance in the heart.  Encouragement helps fuel or empower a person to begin moving forward out of the shadows into the light of God’s promises and purposes.  Paul instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” NIV

Always remember the times when you needed someone to give you an encouraging word and how much it uplifted your heart and spirit.  Instead of looking down on someone suffering from depression because of anxiety remember that except for the Grace of God that could be you and possibly you have been discouraged and depressed.  I never want to receive or give flattery, but I do want to give and receive encouragement.  Remember we reap WHAT we sow, later than we sow, and more than we sow!

I have had times when simply giving me a word of cheer was insufficient and needed to be slapped in the face (figuratively) with the reality of my situation.  I needed to be challenged to shake off the depression and look to the Word of God for my hope and help.  I remember once battling discouragement and having a friend who would begin singing when he saw me.  It irritated me at first but after a few times, it began to stir something inside, and as the chains of despair began to break, I could see what he was doing and began to rejoice with him. 

You never know the power a kind and encouraging word will have in and on life.  Therefore, remember what God has brought you out of and always have a word of encouragement for a brother or sister battling anxiety.  Your encouragement may be the catalyst that lifts them from the darkness into a new walk of victory.

Blessings as you go through this day!

Ephesians 4:29-32 – “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” NASB

Ephesians 5:1 – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  NASB

What do we have to Put Away as Christians?  What are those things that the Holy Spirit identified through the apostle Paul that we, as believers, are responsible for dealing with in our lives?

THE NUMBER ONE THING IS BITTERNESS.

That is numero uno!  It is the big boy of things that we must deal with in our lives if we are to move into the Grace of God and mature as believers.  I would suggest to you that bitterness is less about what you do than what you do with it.  Bitterness is in reality, a way of being or a state of mind.  It is something that has descended so deeply inside our beings that it is rooted to the core of who we are.  It is a state or a constant that too many either do not know exists or refuse to acknowledge. 

Bitterness can be tied to an experience and that experience may have happened years earlier and likely did because now the hurt, disappointment, and pain have become full-blown Bitterness!  Remember that Paul is speaking to believers!  I know that is difficult for some, but he is speaking to believers who still have problems.  He is speaking to people that have brought some ugly baggage with them into the Christian experience.  He could have said, “Hold it!  You brought some things with you that are part of the old life, and you are still bitter about them.’  

Things that have become such an ingrained part of our being that we often do not even know they are there.  Big or small it was something that you never forgot or let go of and now it has taken root deep inside of who you are and has to be dealt with.   Remember what the Bible says about a root of bitterness, and it springs up and many are defiled.

Research has proven that bitterness can release poisons into the bloodstream that can be measured in a test tube and those poisons can actually bring on sickness and disease.  We expect that of sin or what we identify as sin, but do we really understand the danger of bitterness?

Bitterness never remains buried it has a way of being released to the tongue!  We see it in wrath – flying off the handle and rage and it comes from a fire that burns deep inside.  We see it in anger – you can see it in the eyes, by the body language but they are nice people and do not let it out, but it is there.  We see it in clamor – uncontrolled shouting, loud arguing, and no control over the tongue.  They will beat you up verbally.  We see it in evil speaking – deliberately spreading gossip and harmful stories about people to hurt them.  In the Greek, it is called blasphemy.   We see it in malice – malice is a settled determination to hurt others.  They may have hurt you and you are getting even. 

Paul says – – God says – – Put it Away!  You do not have to be bound by bitterness Jesus died for your victory and freedom!

May God bless you as you go through your day!

Ephesians 4:29-32 – “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” NASB

Ephesians 5:1 – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  NASB

Yesterday we talked about this in a measure.  Today I want us to move further in this consideration of the mindset of the victim vs. Christian.  I truly believe that one of the reasons that we fall into that trap is that we fail to understand Grace.  Sometimes it seems as though we think Grace is simply God being gracious to us. 

I think the schoolmaster, The Law that brought us to Grace has become a problem in that in The Law or any Law says if you behave, I am satisfied.  Grace does not issue that edict but demands more.    The Law simply deals with my behavior but Grace deals with my heart.  I can look the part, act the part, and appear to be Christian but inside be full of filth.  Grace deals with my heart and regardless of how I look on the outside, it is working on the inside or the Heart!

Grace is not focused on behavior but the Church per se is.  We fulfill the scripture that ‘man looks on the outward’ to a tee!  Grace deals with our want to and begins the process of change there at the seat of the problem and the core of our being.  Then, when the heart is changed the behavior follows naturally.  Sadly, behavior is too often nothing more than a ‘mask’ that professors of Christianity wear and hide who they really are from the world, but you cannot hide from God!

Notice Paul says, “The Grace has come to you….”  In other words, it has invaded who you are.  Now it is up to us to cooperate with the Spirit of God and allow change to be affected in our lives on the inside.  Grace did not just bring us deliverance from the world of sin it brings us Salvation that takes place every day of our lives.  It brings us daily wholeness! 

The Grace of God makes us spiritually healthy and whole.  There is a truth that I will not get into here but sometimes we are sick in our bodies because we are sick in our heads and hearts.  I have heard medical doctors claim that upwards of 90% of all diseases are psychosomatic.  I do not know that I would go that far but I do know that our attitudes can affect our health.  Please do not assume that I am saying if you were right spiritually you would not battle any physical ailment.  I did not and do not say that!  I lost my wife due to cancer and do not believe any of her disease was psychosomatic or because of a sickness of her heart.  She was devoted to God and had a pure heart filled with love!  It was diabolical evil that attacked her.

Paul tells us that there are some things that we must do as believers.  There are some things that we do not just pray about but take ownership of and act on.  We are to put away – malice, bitterness, and evil speaking.  That is pretty radical, but the Holy Spirit emphasized the put away which in Greek means ‘make a decisive choice.’  It is like saying, ‘Do it man!  Make it happen!  Don’t pray about it!  Don’t say I will try!  JUST DO IT!’

I want us to look at what we are to Put Away, but time and space will not permit adequate examination so I will pause here. 

God bless you as you go through your day!

Ephesians 4:29-32 – “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  NASB

Ephesians 5:1 – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”  NASB

The more I read and study the writings of the apostle, Paul, the more I am convinced that he saw a life that many professing believers either never see or do not believe is possible.  Paul repeatedly speaks of leaving the “old” – world, way, man, and everything that belongs to the realm of sin and the fallen race of Adam and moving into the “new” – creation, self, man, birth and encouraged his followers to Act Out or Live Out the Christian experience through their new source of Life – JESUS!   His message was one that continually called for those who experienced the ‘new birth’ to Become who they really are in Christ!

The new birth is about the process that happens after the experience of salvation. In the new birth, we were translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.  We were not and are not the finished product but are in the process of becoming!  So, for the rest of our mortal existence on earth, we are moving from one experience to another and being transformed into something!  We are no longer what we were and are not yet what we will be, but we are moving toward that goal.  It is time that we allow the newness of the Life in Christ to permeate every crevice of our lives and touch every facet and dimension of our being.  It is a passage from the old to the new.  It is moving from sin to total transformation.  It is Salvation!

Tragically, many have the cart before the horse and are trying to change, shape up, get better, turn over a new leaf, and try harder or something.  It is the incredible need of humanity to earn something and deserve something.  God repeatedly says, “No thanks!  I accept you just as you are, where you are, and who you are because of JESUS!”  So, it is time that we comprehend and get our heads and hearts around the truth that We are Accepted!  It is in that state of acceptance that God steps in and begins the process of changing us or transforming us into His Image.

When we come to Christ, we essentially have to relearn life because we have the mindset of sin in us.  That is one of the reasons that Jesus spoke of becoming like little children.  We have to develop a new way of thinking and a new way of living.  For that to become reality we have to be schooled or trained and that is the work of the Holy Spirit and those under whose tutelage we are maturing.  

Too many just add Sunday to their schedule when they accept Christ, but Christianity is not that.  It truthfully is relearning how to live every moment of every day of every week of every month of every year!  It is allowing all the distortion that is in us to be purged.  It is to allow the bentness that is inherent in our DNA to be transformed by God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace!  It is literally having our Mind Renewed!

That is the only possible way that we can move from the human mindset of victimization to God’s mindset of Christian.  We have to relearn life and then live that life that we have learned in Jesus!  You are a “Child of the King of Kings” not just a man or a woman.  You are God’s children and are heirs to everything that God is and has, so live like it!

May God be with you as you go through your day!  We will consider this more tomorrow!

John 15:5-7 – “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned.”  NASB

If Christ is in us (in our hearts), then the life that we live in the flesh is His life.  I have heard people sing or preach and someone comes up to them and tell them how much they were ministered to as a result only to hear the person say, “Oh it was not me it was the Lord.”  While that is true, I must ask, “Wasn’t that you on the platform singing or speaking?” 

Remember that while it is the Lord, and all credit is due Him you are the vessel that He is using, so do not draw back from celebrating your uniqueness or the anointing and gifting He has bestowed upon you.  He made you like He made you and gifted you like He gifted you, so it is “I live, yet not I….”  It is Christ in Me!  You do not trust yourself, but you are totally reliant on Him.  He is the Vine, and we are the branches or a vine branch!

Have you ever considered the reality that a ‘vine branch’ is utterly useless in and of itself?  If a ‘vine branch’ is not producing grapes it has no use whatsoever.  I believe that God chose this deliberately to teach us a vital truth.  What is the Vine?  Think about it because if you dig deep enough you will realize that the vine is invisible.  It is an invisible life that comes up through the trunk and inevitably produces a leaf that produces a flower that produces a grape!  I have never seen a vine, but I have seen expressions of it.  Therefore, the Branch does nothing but receive the Life that is in the Vine!

Can you imagine coming to a vine in the springtime and hearing the branches say, “Man I’ve got to get this leaf out so we can produce grapes?”  No, it just hangs there effortless waiting on the life that is in the vine to flow through it and do the work.  Jesus is trying to convey to us that it is the same principle in the Christian Life.  We are just the flow-through vessels of the Life that is in the Vine!    He is trying to convey to us that if we will just be ‘in’ Him, He will do the work and produce the fruit!

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 when He said, “Come unto me all you that labor and are heaven laden and I will give you a rest.”  The word rest could be accurately translated as a vacation.  What is a vacation?  It is when you stop working and rest!  Jesus was not speaking to sinners; He was speaking to believers.  He was talking to people who were trying to ‘work enough, do enough, and please God.’  So, if you ever grow sick and tired of trying to do enough to please God He is calling ‘Come unto Me, and I will…’  

Imagine that!  Christianity that wants to deserve and earn God’s favor has a difficult time with that.  If we have to struggle to please God, we have several choices.  You can be a Buddhist, Hindu, or any other religion in the world because they are all struggling.  But, if I am a Christian, according to the Bible, I Stop Struggling and allow the Life of the Vine to Life and Flow through me.  “I live, but it is not I, it is Christ.”  All the Branch does is remain In the Vine!  The Life that is in the Vine flows into the branch and produces the visible fruit!  That in no way diminishes our responsibility or accountability but frees us to Live His Life as it flows through us.

Stop Struggling and allow Christ in you to produce the Hope of Glory!  Let God live His life through you!   Christianity is a Rest, not a Struggle!

May God bless you as you go through your day!

2 Corinthians 1:24 – “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” NKJV

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 – “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.  20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.  22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”  NKJV

I am becoming increasingly convinced that many people are living in bondage to the opinions and wishes of others needlessly. The question is Why?  They live in fear, the fear of people.  Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man brings a snare…”  I must caution, we must not be Independent to the point that we say, “I don’t care what they think or how they feel.”  We Must Care! But we must not become subservient to the opinions of others.  We Must Not become enslaved by the opinions of others. 

I had a pastor tell me, “I serve the people.”  I appreciate the idea he intended. However, our serving the people and our service flows from our Serving God!    The first direction of service must be toward God!  Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 4:5 that he was their “bondservant for Jesus’ sake.”  Notice he did not say, “for your sake or our sake but for Jesus’ sake.”

Having served as a Pastor and ministering to Pastors I recognize this problem and attitude in the congregation and in the clergy, that the Pastor is the servant of the people.  I have had church members say, “Well that’s what we pay him for and if he doesn’t do what I want I’ll quit the church or get rid of him.”  Isn’t that a wonderful Christian attitude?  Well, at best it is a grossly immature attitude. The Pastor is there to be a Servant of God and to be used by God throughout the entire body and community as God deems necessary and desirable. He may have to say NO at times and believe me I know how negatively that is often received. 

It is also important that we are not enslaved to the commandments or traditions of men.  In Matthew 15:9, Jesus warned us not to listen to the doctrines of men.  Unfortunately, there is an incredible amount of man-made tradition in churches across the land.  Some churches are so bound by man-made traditions which cannot be backed up by Scripture they cannot break free and live free. 

In John 5:41-44, Jesus warned about the Praise of Men.  He urged those listening to not be drawn into flattery and earthly praise but to seek the honor and smiles of God.  It is a sad situation when a minister is more concerned about the Praise of Men than Obedience to the directive of God.  It is not just sad it is dangerous and destructive!

In Galatians 1:10-12, Paul declared, “For do I now persuade men or God?   Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”  He was addressing authority and being under authority.  We are subject to the authority of government and even in the church but that cannot dictate our ministry and if man’s decree violates God’s we must make the choice and hopefully we choose God not man. 

If we are truly serving God, obeying His will is of supreme importance to us.  As we obey Him and serve Him, we are of service to people and serve them in a productive rather than destructive manner.  We must also beware of following the Wisdom of Men because man’s wisdom will fail but God’s will not.  That leads us to the point that, as believers, we are to be Free from the Fear of Men.  Jesus addressed this in Matthew 10:24-28telling them that all people can do is Kill You, in the natural.  But God can destroy both body and soul in hell. 

Therefore, set your heart to obey God and refuse to bow down to human commandments and traditions.  Reject the urge and need for the praise of people and recognize God as your Lord and Master and reject the dictatorial tyranny of people in the world or in the church.  Guard against allowing opinions of others to direct your life and ministry and always be guarded regarding the Wisdom of Men. 

Never and I mean Never Never Never allow the Fear of Man to rule you!  Remember 1 Corinthians 7:23, “You are bought with a price; do not be the servants of men.”  Jesus has set you Free so Live Free in doing the will of God and allow God to change what needs to be changed.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

2 Corinthians 1:24 – “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” NKJV

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 – “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.  20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.  22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”  NKJV

As I mentioned last devotional, Paul presented four arguments that we should remain as we are and let God make the changes from within.  Let us consider them briefly.

• We Are Called by God.

Verse 17 – “As the Lord has called each one…”  That idea is repeated in (verses 18, 20, 21, and 24).  He used the words ‘called’ and ‘calling’ nine times.  He concluded with (verse 24) – “Brethren, let each one remain with God in the state in which he was called.”  Please understand that does not mean if we are offered a promotion, we are to automatically turn it down.  It simply means that you do not immediately make radical changes, but you allow God to change things from within.  God has called us; therefore, we allow Him to open the doors and make the changes.  He can and He will!

• We Have Been Assigned by God.

Verse 17 – “AS God has distributed to every man…”  Our place in society, on our job, our spiritual gifts, and abilities are assignments from God.  God knows exactly what He is doing and when He desires to make changes He will.  If we arbitrarily make radical changes, we will royally mess everything up.  Most of us have been guilty in some areas.  Please understand that does not mean we are not to seek to better our condition.  Nobody wants to remain in a difficult situation, but we must also learn to make the most of where we are and rest in God, trusting Him completely.

• We Belong to God.

Verse 23 – “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.”  You belong to God!  The value of any object is the price paid for it.  It is amazing the price some people will pay for various things.  Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and that reveals the value God places on each of us.  “You are bought with a price…”  You and I belong to God, therefore, “do not become slaves of men.”

• We Should Abide with Him.

Verse 24 – “Let every man… abide with God.”  If you are where God has placed you, doing the job God has given you to do – You Are Abiding With God!  If you rebel against His will, you will not Abide with or in God!  If we do not Abide, we cannot bear spiritual fruit!

Therefore, it is imperative that we Abide where He has planted us and stay planted until He transplants us.  We have an Assignment from the LORD and until we complete that assignment, we are not likely to be given another.  The saying, “Bloom where you are planted” is applicable.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

2 Corinthians 1:24 – “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith, you stand.” NKJV

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 – “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so, I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.  20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.  22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”  NKJV

Most people understand that Freedom is an incredibly valuable and often rare commodity. Well, hopefully, most people know that.  It is important to understand what Freedom is, what False Freedom is, and what it means to be Free from Law, and Free from Sin.  Those are incredibly important topics, but there is one Freedom that must be addressed – “Freedom from Man.”  When men become spiritual dictators, it creates an incredibly dangerous and undesirable condition.   In 1 Corinthians 7, listed above, the apostle Paul lays down a basic principle that we should not be blindly subject to people, but that we should be subject to God in everything!

That makes the setting of this passage beyond important, it is critical.  If we fail to grasp the setting, we will arrive at some false conclusions and develop some false interpretations.  As I read and study this passage, I realize that the battles Paul was facing were due to some of the Corinthians abusing their Freedom in Jesus.  The Corinthian Church was made up of people who, by and large, had lived in gross sin.  Many of them had been involved in extreme wickedness and now they had Freedom in Jesus. 

Galatians 3:28 advises us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  That is important!  The Corinthian believers knew this truth, but they were taking it to the extreme.  Simply, they were making use of their freedom to the point of license.

They took that passage and argued that marriage was abolished in Christ, nationality was being erased, those in slavery were no longer to obey their earthly masters, etc.  When we come to Christ our gender, nationality, ethnicity, as well as our social and economic status does not immediately change.  Salvation affords us the potential to make the most out of every situation.  Salvation is a spiritual change!  It can and should bring about change in the home, on the job, and in society and should.  The crucial point to remember is that God does not work from the outside in, He works from the inside out.  He changes us and that change results in a changed attitude and actions and that results in changes around us.

Paul offered a foundational principle, “Allow God to make the changes.”  As you consider verses 7, 17, 20, and 24we understand that we are to learn to make the most of our present condition and situation.  As we allow the changes to come from within, we find that God’s incredible miracle of change comes.  Remember we are Free, not Independent. 

No believer can be independent of other believers and no believer should be totally dependent on other believers.  Our dependency is on Christ, not man!  No human is to be a dictator in the lives of others.  That is true in politics, economics, marriage, and spirituality.  The slaves were still slaves, but they were free spiritually!  Paul’s view was not so much about the physical condition one found themself but the freedom of spirit, heart, and soul in Jesus. The masters were to be slaves to Christ but still masters.  You and I are free from the dominion and domination of people but that does not make us independent.  The change in our lives must begin on the inside. 

Paul presented four arguments for us to remain as we are and allow God to make the changes from within.  I will get to those, next time but for now, I pray that each of us realizes that we are to obey God rather than man when man’s decrees violate God’s.  We are not islands in life but connected to every other believer and although we are Free, we are not Independent.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!