Are we free?

Just last week Wednesday, which was July 4th, it was a holiday! I enjoyed that break which meant no work, then had fun with some friends that came over plus we ate good. All these were in commemoration of America’s independence. Had the opportunity to see some fireworks at night which can be a sight to behold

We celebrate independence to thank God for our freedom from oppression. When a country wrests its power from its colonial masters, it means the country has come of age and is ready to rule its own affairs

Whilst enjoying my day off and chilling, I had a moment to myself thinking on what does that mean for us as a people, individually speaking? Are we free? I think one of the powerful expressions of freedom is to walk in love and forgiveness

Forgiveness is one of the most difficult subjects to deal on because if truth be told, it is not easy putting that lesson into practice because it is at the expense of your emotional pleasure for vengeance and rebuttal in favor of taking the high road. I must admit I have hated “the high road” on many occasions. Not fun at all taking that route. Do you enjoy that route?

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians‬ ‭4:31-32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Well, one of the ways we can easily forgive is to realize and know how God through Christ has forgiven us. You can only forgive from a point and position of love. Personally, when I came to that realization of that truth, it became easier to letting go of grudges and forgiving at will. At first, forgiveness was a real pain in the butt and a lot of effort for me. Understanding God’s rich, unconditional and everlasting love towards me is a very free and empowering experience

I pray for you reading that you will come to experience that rich kind of love by making a commitment to give your life to Jesus by believing with your heart and confessing with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”. You can’t have an abstract relationship with God and expect to experience this kind of love. I wished it worked like that so that all 7 billion plus can understand this love but unfortunately, it doesn’t! It will take a personal relationship with God which is a spiritual journey for that to happen

Why forgive? Because you don’t surrender your thoughts and emotions to the person who has offended you anytime his name comes up in a conversation or a thought of him occurs in your mind. Forgiveness releases that person’s hold of your emotions and thoughts and that is when you can say you have true freedom- this is independence

“And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.” Matthew‬ ‭18:34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Unforgiveness is a heavy debt on your soul. The context of this story is a parable narrated by Jesus on forgiveness when a servant was forgiven by a king for a large sum of money. Immediately he left, he found one of his servants who owed him a paltry amount in relation to what he owed the king. He couldn’t extend the forgiveness to this servant he had just experienced at the hands of the king. He put the servant in prison and word got to the king of his wicked treatment so the king in retaliation decided to put the guy in prison to pay all his debts before he will be released. Before that, the king was angry that couldn’t the servant show the same kindness?

Friend, anytime you hold on to a grudge, you are in bondage- you put yourself into bars of torture and that is tantamount to a debt owed. Can you argue my case out that you are really free and it is worth holding on to that grudge?

Please make that phone call for reconciliation, forgive that person that betrayed you to the point of tears, forgive the in-despicable (I know, very very horrible things), let it go so that you can walk in true freedom. Forgiveness doesn’t mean we have to be friends again as it used to be. Of course, the dynamics of the relationship might change but at least in your heart, you know you have experienced independence anytime your paths cross or the person’s name comes up either in a conversation or your thoughts

If there is any prayer we should pray today, it should be, “Lord teach me how to love”

Till I come your way again…

Peace & Love