FREEDOM IS DIFFICULT

Freedom is difficult. Go too far in one direction and you get tyranny. Go too far the other and you get anarchy. To strike the right balance between liberty and license is hard work. To keep us pointed in the right direction, the Apostle Paul gave us these words of instruction; “For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one... another through love. For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:13-14) Why is this so difficult at times? Why do we struggle so much with this? If we give all of our burdens to the Lord, why do we seem to hold onto animosity, distain, hate, fear, anger, I could go on. We all do it, it’s going to happen, it’s the world we live in, we just all need to know how to deal with it. Let me convey to you some scripture that help me to deal with it: First – Luke 10:27 - Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind;” Second – Ephesians 4:26 - “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” Third – Matthew 18:15-16 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. Lastly – Mark 12:31 – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There are many more scriptures dealing with this subject, these are some that help me sleep at night. Your trials will be many, but even so, He never leaves your side. Pride and ego are difficult things to let go of, but when you do, the void is filled with peace and contentment such as you have never known!