Freedom comes from God
William “Carey” Northington
“Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
God created you and me. He created us to be free. His desire for His creation has always to be free from anything that may distract us from fulfilling the purpose for which we exist.
However, many times, even those who profess to follow Jesus allow the things of this world to enslave us. I include myself in this. Perhaps like you, I can be tempted and lured to even supposed “good things” that may be enough of draw that I like it more than I like following Christ.
Loving those who are difficult
William “Carey” Northington
“Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
Paul, the author of many of the letters in the New Testament, wrote the words above “(to) all who are in Rome, loved by God …” (Rom. 1:7) He writes this letter to followers of Jesus in this far away land declaring to them that they are loved by God. They knew this intellectually but to hear it from their spiritual leader must have been encouraging.
We, too, are “loved by God.” I admit, I can sometimes read right over this idea and not drink in the significance of it. To be loved by God, our Creator and Lord, is so important on many levels. Paul wrote in this same letter: “But God proves His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” (Rom. 5:8) There is no greater love than the incredible sacrifice God gave in giving up His own Son for His creatio