Freedom Isn’t Free

Freedom isn’t free.

That’s what ran like a ticker tape through my thoughts as I read about a group of activists damning Independence Day to protest the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade.

I shook my head in disbelief at the ridiculousness of the event: “F _ _ _ the Fourth”😳  The only reason they’re FREE to protest is due to the FREEDOM that fell ON the fourth by the many who died for it!

Freedom is costly nationally AND spiritually! The 2 seemingly separate things were very connected in Old Testament history. The Law stated that children will suffer for their father’s sins up to the 4th generation & that’s precisely where we find the king of Judah in 2 Kings 24.

His great-grandfather filled the streets of Jerusalem with innocent blood of people, priests & prophets who wouldn’t follow his wicked ways. The atrocity is SO great, that the Lord will not forgive!😳

The national cup of iniquity is full & the tipping hand of judgement finally falls as nations attack & God’s people are led into captivity.

One of the captives, however, the prophet Ezekiel, suddenly prophesies a new doctrine!

He writes that children will no longer suffer for the  sins of the father because “the son who has done what is lawful & right shall surely live.”

Is he telling of the coming Christ who will conquer death so that we might be free?

If you personally knew a veteran who gave his life for your freedom, would you ever mock Memorial, Independence or Veterans Day? I can’t fathom it…

In the same way that our national freedom was paid with the price of life, so was our eternal freedom.

As we celebrate freedom today, may we be reminded of the greater freedom bought by Jesus!

Father, thank You for sacrificing Your Son Who fulfilled the Law so we won’t suffer for the sins of our forefathers. Awaken our hearts this Independence Day by reminding us that freedom isn’t free.

We are free to live independently FROM You, but the price is eternal hell. Jesus died SO THAT we might live independent FROM sin eternally!

May we not mock freedom by living our lives in our own will & way. Redeemer, freely have Your Way with us as we walk as willing captives behind The One Who set us free!

#OneYearBible

July 4th One Year Bible Readings

2 KINGS 23:31-25:30

ACTS 22:17-23:10

PSALM 2:1-12

PROVERBS 18:13

How Might Our Lives Turn Upside-down-better if We Answered Every Time God Calls?

I love the movie, “Yes Man”. It’s a comedy based on the premise of saying yes to any opportunity that presents itself. The main character is in a slumpy season of life that suddenly turns upside-down better when he learns the principle of an undeterred “yes”. It’s a funny movie that begs a serious question: Can you imagine the blessings we might experience if we simply said, “Yes” to anything the Lord might ask?

Today as I read about King Josiah, I was stunned speechless by his undaunted obedience to follow God. As he begins to repair the Temple, a priest discovers the dusty Book of the Law that had been neglected for years. The very moment the King hears what’s written in the Book, he tears his clothing in despair because he suddenly knows how far his nation has drifted from God.

He immediately gathers his people & reads the entire thing to them. Then, he & his people renew their covenant with the Lord.

With passion unlike any other, he removes, demolishes & defiles every single thing used to worship other gods. The passage closes with a epitaph I long to have on my headstone:

“Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart & soul & strength…& there has never been a king like him since.”

Y’all I awakened with a nudge from the Holy Spirit to remove a small thing that could become a god-thing, but I didn’t because it seemed so drastic 😬 After reading about the zeal of Josiah, however, I wonder if that’s the point? Why hesitate? Is slow obedience disobedience?

Ok, sufficiently convicted 👉🏽I just paused writing & removed that “thing”. I wonder how much good I’ve missed because my yesses to God can sometimes be with great delay or even with a half yes?

When my guys were little, we trained them to follow quickly, quietly, completely & joyfully SO THAT they’d learn what it’s like to be “yes men” to the Lord. Apparently I’ve still got some training of my own to do!

Father, we want to become men & women who fully follow You with ALL of our heart, soul & strength! Make us your yes people who hear Your voice & follow without hesitation, because we know that Your plans are the best plans even when they feel drastic!

#OneYearBible

July 3rd One Year Bible Readings

2 KINGS 22:3-23:30

ACTS 21:37-22:16

PSALM 1:1-6

PROVERBS 18:11-12

A “You-Do-You & I’ll-Do-Me” Approach to Life Neglects Our Call to Go

“You do you & I’ll do me” might feel like a kind approach to life, especially when our nation is rife with division. But the problem with that approach is that it neglects our call to, “go & make disciples of all nations”, that is, if one claims to be a Christian.

When Josiah becomes king of Judah at the mere age of 8, he inherits a big fat mess because his father & grandfather led the entire nation into deep moral disrepair.

Not only is the temple of the Lord in neglect, altars for pagan gods are erected inside of it! His own uncle had been sacrificed in the fire as a dedication to the detestable god of Molech!

So with that kind of generational junk in his backpack, it makes you wonder how he became one of the few kings who, “did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, not turning from what was right?” Maybe he witnessed his own father’s assassination & determined in his heart to not do what he’d done?

He could’ve approached his throne having nothing to do with his people’s religious practices, only focusing on their conduct as members of state, but that’s not the case.

We don’t know how his faith was so sure, but what we DO know is that he used his influence as ruler to rid his nation of lawless practices & to repair the temple of the one true God. He was not content to merely know God & serve Him by himself, but determined in his heart to wield his position to woo the hearts of the people back to the only God who saves!

Charles Spurgeon once said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.” 😳

What a visual, right? King Josiah could’ve led with a laissez-faire political approach, but he acted with swift fearlessness for the sake of the people!

We may not be kings, but we are Kingdom carriers AND we are all positioned with influence we can wield for Kingdom purposes!

King Josiah laid down complacent comfort to follow his God & King with undeterred zeal. Are we willing to use our platforms of influence to do the same?

Father, a you-do-you approach to life may let our loved ones live their life right into hell. May we live with the zeal of Josiah, using our time, talent, Influence & treasures to love many into Your Kingdom! 

#OneYearBible

July 2nd One Year Bible Readings

2 KINGS 20:1-22:2

ACTS 21:18-36

PSALM 150:1-6

PROVERBS 18:9-10