Freedom isn’t Free
It struck me yesterday as I looked at my calendar. Yesterday was Memorial Day and today is Memorial Day observed. A long weekend we set aside in the United States as a reminder that freedom isn’t free. It has been bought at a high price. Men and women who have been willing to give their lives if necessary so that we could enjoy our God given freedoms that are protected by our Constitution.
It also reminds me of what God did for us. He paid for our freedom (freedom from sin and His coming wrath) by sending His Son Jesus. Jesus was willing to die so that anyone who accepts His gift can be set free forever. Romans 5:7-8 says:
7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Yesterday we honor those men and women who were, and are, willing to dare to die for a country that honors freedom. Willing to fight to keep us free. I am also reminded of a God who loves us so much that He was willing to die so that we could be free to be with Him forever. All motivated by love. For the soldier it’s love of country and sacrificing to make a better life for loved ones back home. For God, He demonstrated His love. A love for those who would chose to be His children by accepting His gift of sacrifice.
Today is Memorial Day Observed, but really, in many ways, we observe it every day. By enjoying the freedom we accept as a free gift that was paid for with a high price.
The World Changes This Summer?
Very interesting, and unsettling, story coming out of the Middle East. Not from “traditional” sources like CNN, Fox News, ABC, CBS or NBC. Rather PJTV has a very interesting interview with a former Major General who is talking about a possible attack on Israel in a few weeks or a few months. PJTV doesn’t provide code to embed the video, but I will link it here so you can watch it for yourself. It’s from May 5, 2010.
Former Major General Paul Vallely (retired) talks about intelligence reports that point to a possible massive attack against Israel this Summer. He says those attacks could include biological weapons. The Major General says that under the plan, suicide bombers and Hezbollah soldiers will invade Israel from the north through tunnels while scud missiles launched from Lebanon rain on Israel.
IF these reports are true and IF Iran launches this attack through it’s proxies in Syria via Hezbollah, I fear for Damascus. In Isaiah 17, God has a severe warning for the city of Damascus. That it will be destroyed. It will be laid to ruins. Damascus is considered by most to be the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. This prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. If the General is correct and Hezbollah launches a biological, chemical, or even nuclear attack (including dirty nukes) on Israel, Israel would most assuredly send an unmistakable message.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, pray that Muslims would continue to come to faith in Jesus, and pray that Iran, Syria and Hezbollah would have the sense not to attack Israel this Summer, or ever.
Driven to Meekness?
Yes, I will race you if you like
It’s weird the things God shows me. Sometimes it’s weird when He shows me these things. This one was a particularly painful illustration for me, but one that helped me understand an important principle in being Christ-like. I call it, “Driven to Meekness.”
It’s a lesson that God has been trying to show me for more than a few months now. It really hit home when I was driving home Saturday afternoon. I was tailgating again because someone wasn’t going as fast as I wanted to go. My heart sunk when she gestured that I was number one when I finally had the opportunity to go around. It really bothered me, and for good reason. I was guilty of driving while being a jerk.
What is about driving for some of us? I am one of the most mild mannered people you will meet (we’ll I’d like to think so most of time) yet when I get on the road that speed demon comes out in me. And while all of us are guilty of being selfish and at the center of our own universes, that is particularly true of me behind the wheel. If you are not driving the speed I want you to and I can’t get around you, I get a little upset, and I use my God given gifts of sharp eyes and reflexes to follow closer than is safe, or comfortable for the person I am following. Add to that that God has allowed me to buy a car with a little power and definitely some quickness that is FUN to drive. I love to rabbit start off the line and get to 5 over the speed limit as fast (and safely) as I can. But, if someone gets in my way, well, sometimes that can be an aggravation. One I sometimes don’t mind expressing with some skillful tailgating.
What does all that have to do with God? Meekness. Jesus came to Earth with all power of heaven at His disposal. By His standards I am slow to understand, slow to obey, slow to be righteous, courteous, long-suffering, slow slow slow. Jesus could have easily run me over with His supremely superior skill, knowledge and righteousness and laugh as He left me in the dust. But He’s not like that. His ministry on Earth wasn’t one of running over the weak because He was in a hurry to get to His destination (the cross to die for us all). No. It was the journey itself that was as important as the destination. As He stopped and He healed all that came to Him, He was revealing the character of the Father. Jesus comforted the down-trodden and ultimately He died for jerks like me.
It’s called meekness. Jesus has all power of heaven and earth. Yet He used that power to serve. Mark 10:42-45
42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
I have a nice car. I have a certain amount of God given driving ability. (probably not as much as I think!) There’s nothing wrong with enjoying those things. They are gifts from God. But when I start to get arrogant in my giftings. When I use them to run people off the road, or scare them, or tick them off then I am not exactly using my gifts for good.
I can have fun driving when it’s safe and when it doesn’t adversely affect others. I can enjoy God’s gifts, but I need to do so in love!
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The driving analogy is more than an analogy in the sense that it is literally true for me. I need to do a better job of driving in love (and I have since Saturday). It applies to all areas of our lives. What has God gifted you with? How are you using those gifts? Do you get annoyed at others who aren’t as strong as you? as smart as you? as spiritual as you? as fill in the blank as you?
The answer is of course you do! Our sinful nature is always pulling us in that direction. But, if we listen to God and obey, we can do better and better. We can serve more today than we did yesterday. We can be meek in the areas that we are strong. I guarantee you that it will be a great witness to those around you. It’s the best shot you have at being number one in the ways that count.
