Just like Martin Luther King Jr. I, too, have a dream. To be honest my dream is much like Dr. King's. It's a dream that all people would be able to live in freedom. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Dr. King's dream and my dream are probably rooted in the same belief, too. He knew, as do I, that freedom, TRUE freedom, doesn't come from changing a law...it comes from changing a heart.
Today I read the following verse: Ezekiel 11:19...
And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart...
verse 20 goes on to say that they will obey His decrees and they will surely be HIS people.
Dr. King and I knew/know that it is in Christ true freedom comes. In what other religion do you find people who are not only willing to die for their beliefs, but live in persecution for them? Oh, and while living in persecution not strive to *kill* their persecutors, but instead seek to love them and share their Lord with them so that those people who are persecuting them..torturing them...making their lives so very hard will also be able to live in Freedom?? How many do you know of any other religion who would not falter or add to the Word of God so as to make it more "acceptable" to the world around them because they know that it is in obedience to the Very One Who created all things true freedom is found?
Dr.King and I knew/know that it is in speaking truth to those who will listen that the Gospel is lived...and when one lives the Gospel, one lives in Freedom.
As you go about your day today think on this ~ how many times do/am I...
...smile when I don't want to because I don't want to appear that I may have problems beyond the little stuff...
...complain about something because I don't want to accept responsibility...
...agree with someone when I don't really agree with them because I want them to like me...
...laugh at something I don't think is funny because I want to be with that person and they think it's funny...
...tell a friend a half-truth so as not to hurt their feelings in the short term though you know they'll be crushed when the whole truth comes out later...
...anything but your authentic self according to the Word of God because you want to fit in better in this world?
There are many other ways we live in bondage to this world, but it is in living the whole truth and nothing but the truth that we find Freedom. I saw a great picture the other day. It said something to the effect of, "The Holy Bible is not Chex Mix. You can't pick out your favorite parts and leave the rest in the bowl."
Dr. King knew...and I know...it is in changing people's hearts that we are able to bring about Freedom. What are you doing to love your neighbor in to The Kingdom of God? How is your heart changed by His Word, His Love, His Sacrifice for you?
Why not live in Freedom today?
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