Devotions Archive Archive: 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Search Archive Print This Article Walls of freedom Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus said to the crowd, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. In grade school, high school, college, work, church, parenthood and marriage I have struggled for freedom. Freedom from the mandates of others and the psychological weights I put on myself. Freedom to be aware of options and to choose within them. Freedom to think or not to think. Freedom to sing for joy and dance with abandon, freedom to be still and wait. I haven't asked for freedom to be or not to be. At least now after 50 plus years of struggle, I foresee few further battles with God. I cherish my existence in the context of his ownership, his control, his creativity. I've been made, but the One who made me has my back. I think that's how God wants it. He has extended me great freedom within the walls of his law. Jesus broke down all the jots and tittles of that law to the double-edged command, "Love God with all you have, and love your brother/sister/neighbor/enemy with all you have. Learn from God how to love yourself, and pass that on to everyone in your life." As I write I realize how much of "all I have" I still reserve. God wants every bit for himself and for others, while I hold on to it as if I might run out or something. I guess the "discussions" I have with God will still be heated. And the more I find my way to obedience, the more free I will be. I say to God, "But I'm afraid, Lord." And God says, "Don't be afraid. Just be." As Pat Conroy writes about dancing in South of Broad, so God says about living the life he gave me: "Don't be afraid to make a mistake. You learn by making mistakes. You get better by making mistakes. Let yourselves go. Don't think. Just dance. Just let your bodies go. Dancing is just the body loving itself." Praise you, Lord, for you have strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within. You proclaim your word, your statutes and ordinances to Israel and not to any other nation. By your attention and your instruction we thrive, Lord. Thank you. --- Psalm 147 "; Add      Edit    Delete