Grace and Peace to you!
In the past few weeks, I have been reminded of Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) and his famous, “I Have a Dream” speech. At the very end, he quotes an old African American spiritual and states that he hopes the time will come when everyone – regardless of their race, creed or nationality – will be able to say, “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty I’m free at last.”
MLK spoke of freedom from the chains of bigotry and inequality. But we continue to see events that point out that these chains have not been completely removed in all parts of our country. The events of these past weeks also reminded me of another MLK quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (“Letter from Birmingham Jail” April 16, 1963).
I think that the apostle Paul was just as eloquent as MLK when Paul expressed a similar thought in Romans chapter 8. Paul writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Paul could have just as easily said about followers of Christ, “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we’re free at last.”
The apostle Paul referred to a different freedom when he wrote about being free in Christ. Paul was, of course, telling of a freedom that surpasses civil freedoms, the freedom that Christ gives us from our sins. Paul wanted followers of Christ to know what he means when he says that we are free, and how we experience that freedom in our daily lives.
This freedom in Christ is all about our eternal destiny and with our relationship with God. All of that is a done deal, which has been taken care of by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Paul’s suggestion is to experience life in the Spirit. Paul emphasizes in his letter to the Christians in Rome, and to us today, that we should quit thinking about things of the flesh. In a sense, he’s telling us to get our minds out of the gutter. Instead he invites us to, “Set our mind on the Spirit.”
When we first read this, it might not seem realistic. We see the world dealing with the issue of a global pandemic. We see the way racial tensions continue across our country. These are on top of things we might have been experiencing in our own lives that haven’t gone away such as relationship struggles or financial worries.
When multiple worries come pressing in, stop and focus on what is really bothering you. Hand it over to Jesus so that he can take care of it. Take a few moments to look at Jesus and see his love and care for you. Hand it over to Jesus so that he can help you through it.
Jesus lived, died and rose again so that we could have life and have it abundantly. Let us then take up this gift of life and go out and serve God and serve one another.
In Christ,
Pastor Bakker
14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:14-16 (NRSV)
In the past few weeks, I have been reminded of Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) and his famous, “I Have a Dream” speech. At the very end, he quotes an old African American spiritual and states that he hopes the time will come when everyone – regardless of their race, creed or nationality – will be able to say, “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty I’m free at last.”
MLK spoke of freedom from the chains of bigotry and inequality. But we continue to see events that point out that these chains have not been completely removed in all parts of our country. The events of these past weeks also reminded me of another MLK quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (“Letter from Birmingham Jail” April 16, 1963).
I think that the apostle Paul was just as eloquent as MLK when Paul expressed a similar thought in Romans chapter 8. Paul writes, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Paul could have just as easily said about followers of Christ, “Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we’re free at last.”
The apostle Paul referred to a different freedom when he wrote about being free in Christ. Paul was, of course, telling of a freedom that surpasses civil freedoms, the freedom that Christ gives us from our sins. Paul wanted followers of Christ to know what he means when he says that we are free, and how we experience that freedom in our daily lives.
This freedom in Christ is all about our eternal destiny and with our relationship with God. All of that is a done deal, which has been taken care of by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Paul’s suggestion is to experience life in the Spirit. Paul emphasizes in his letter to the Christians in Rome, and to us today, that we should quit thinking about things of the flesh. In a sense, he’s telling us to get our minds out of the gutter. Instead he invites us to, “Set our mind on the Spirit.”
When we first read this, it might not seem realistic. We see the world dealing with the issue of a global pandemic. We see the way racial tensions continue across our country. These are on top of things we might have been experiencing in our own lives that haven’t gone away such as relationship struggles or financial worries.
When multiple worries come pressing in, stop and focus on what is really bothering you. Hand it over to Jesus so that he can take care of it. Take a few moments to look at Jesus and see his love and care for you. Hand it over to Jesus so that he can help you through it.
Jesus lived, died and rose again so that we could have life and have it abundantly. Let us then take up this gift of life and go out and serve God and serve one another.
In Christ,
Pastor Bakker
14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Romans 8:14-16 (NRSV)
