I’m Free, Baby!

Don is the son of my mom’s coworker. He was very motivated and determined during his younger years. He studied hard in high school and got into Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, commonly called MIT, on a full scholarship. He was going down the track to a successful career, and seemed to have his life set in place. When Don got to MIT, he was surprised by the freedom and life that was available there; some of those MIT kids knew how to party (MIT is one of the Top 40 Party Schools in the US). Don started to live the fun life: going to parties, playing DotA until morning, romping around downtown Boston, doing whatever he wanted. His college life could have been the music video for the Black Eyed Pea’s “I Gotta Feeling”. Needless to say, Don’s grades dropped like a radioactive potato, to the point where by 2nd semester sophomore year, Don lost his full scholarship and was kicked out of MIT. Also, Don is not allowed to apply to any state universities in Massachusetts. He is black-listed in Massachusetts, and unfortunately that appears on his record too. Don now goes to a community college in Boston, and is set on rebuilding his life. But he’s three semesters too late.

1 Corinthians 10:23-33

The Believer's Freedom
23"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.

Being human is like being a college kid. We have the opportunity to do whatever we want. The blood of Jesus has indeed given us a license to be free, but that freedom does not mean we can abuse it. Think about it this way: if Jesus died on that cross so we could be saved and be free, then what would we be doing if we just turned around and did whatever we wanted? That’s like Don abusing the scholarship and life that was given to him. It’s a slap in the face of the institution, and us taking our freedom for granted is essentially a slap in the face to the sacrifice Jesus made. What freedom do we have then? We have the freedom to talk about God to our friends whenever the chance arises, we have the freedom to rebuke a brother/sister in Christ, we have the freedom to say no to that house-party, to walk away from gossip, to help that woman with her groceries, to talk to the odd kid in the cafeteria, to forgive the bullies on the basketball team. We, who were once slaves to sin and now freed by Jesus, have the freedom to love. We have the freedom to overflow Jesus.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
I want to thank you for the freedom you have given me through your son Jesus. I pray that you protect my heart, so that I do not take this freedom for granted. Please, Lord, start in me the fire to take my freedom and use it to glorify You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Thursday: Pray for the church (small c)
Pray for our church’s expansion project; that God will provide and lead us as we move forward.