Remember Where You Came From

And God spoke all these words:

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Exodus 20:1-2 NIV

It's funny, in a sad way, how easy it is for us to forget where we came from. Just the the Israelites who just came out of Egypt and God was reminded them not to forget that they were just recently in slavery in Egypt, we sometimes need to remember that we were slaves to sin. 

I am not saying you should dwell or revel in your past. But, sin is a cruel and deceptive master. It desires to have you. In a bad way. Sin may seem good for a season but in the end it only separates you from God and those you love. We need to remember that Jesus is God, who brought us out of sin. Sin is not good. Sin is destructive. 

The Ten Commandment begin with God reminding the Israelites that he, the LORD, is their God and that he is the one who brought them out of Egypt, the land of slavery. We need to remember that he is the LORD our God who brings us out of the slavery of sin. I don't know what that looks like to you, but I do know it is good to remember that you are no longer a slave to sin, but have been set free in Christ. 

Confession Is a Good For The Soul

They say that confession is good for the soul. Sometimes we just need to sit down and get things straight with God. The Spirit may be convicting you. Go to God and get things right. 

Blessed is the one
   whose transgressions are forgiven,
   whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one 
   whose sin the Lord does not count against them 
   and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent,
   my bones wasted away 
   through my groaning all day long.
For day and night 
   your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
   as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you 
   and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
   And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Psalms 32:1-5 (NIV) 

Thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness...

ARE YOU FREE TO JUMP OFF A BUILDING?

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

1 Peter 2:16-17 (NIV)

Being free is an interesting proposition. Does it mean being free to do anything? No, because I could freely choose to jump off the tallest building in downtown LA, but with out a parachute, I'd just die. Freedom does mean thoughtlessness or lawlessness. As a Christian, I am free from sin to serve God which means to live as I was created to live. 

Peter immediately speaks of respect. I have worked in some pretty tough neighborhoods and respect is a big thing, especially among boys and men. For many people respect is more like fear, just fear. But respect is not one person being afraid of another person doing something foolish and hurting them. That is just being afraid of someones lack of self-control displayed in a violent act. Respect is beyond treating someone as you would want them to treat you (also known as the golden rule). Respect is treating someone as a fellow child of God, created in his image. Respect is treating someone as Christ would treat them and remembering that Jesus died for them, just as he died for you. That is godly respect. That is true respect.  

So, freely live, freely love and freely respect all who God puts before you.

Lord, help us to love and respect everyone, even those who don't love and respect us. Praise be to you in us today!

CELEBRATE YOUR FREEDOM! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

"I walk about in freedom,
     for I have sought out your precepts." Psalm 119:45

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
     because the LORD has anointed me
     to preach good news to the poor.
 He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
     to proclaim freedom for the captives
     and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1


May God richly bless America with his freedom and grace.