Slavery maybe something of an abstract concept to those in the western world privileged to be told that they live in a free society. However when the challenges of daily living are considered – bills to pay, onerous responsibilities to meet, friends to retain, personal image to sustain, rat-race to maintain – then it’s no wonder even those in the ‘free society’ appear just as enslaved as those from previous eras or other countries. Everyone is under pressure to some extent and that pressure can cripple, depress and rob the joy to be discovered when we break free.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)
Safe Journey
Shalom
From the chick breaking through the egg shell to the moth emerging from the chrysalis there are experiences of the desire to break free. Even the wonder of seeing the birth of a newborn baby highlights the wonder of someone entombed for so long finally breaking free. This desire is not reserved to birth as the histories of peoples and individuals are full of struggle, triumph and tragedy to get and enjoy some physical, emotional, financial or spiritual freedom. This month is dedicated to exploring and reflecting on this crucial theme. What does it mean to you?
Directions in the journey of life are especially crucial when you don’t know where you’re going. So many distractions and ‘helpful’ pointers can leave things confusing. Faith acts as a steer and a guide to the direction you should go. So in those times when you don’t always know how to get to where you’re going, faith fundamentally gives reassurance not of reaching the destination, but relationship on the way.
The biggest achievements started small. The longest journey starts and ends with a single step. Wherever you are in your journey, maybe you haven’t even left the comfort of your own surroundings. There are, though, significant, positive life-changing experiences waiting on the way towards conquering something of eternal value. The invitation has been made for you to go to a land promised for you far better than where you are at the moment. Respond to the call today; take that one small step for man …
How can you know the directions a full life if you’ve never been there before? Help will be needed in getting the map on how to get where you’re heading. Acknowledging that having not been there before it is not possible to know the directions the next best thing is to check if someone has been there before or if fellow travellers have any travel tips. The smallest search will uncover good instruction for direction to life – it is to now look for it and accept to get ton that destination of life in all its fullness.
Where are you going? People who have succeeded in life are usually driven forward towards accomplishing a goal. It gives them something to work towards and when they have achieved that they move onto another. Success is achieved by being clear and focussed. Where things go awry is through distractions. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. In fact with the vast array of choices available it is easy to get side-tracked into noble activities but actually detract from reaching life’s goal. Are you distracted? Where are you going?
When their brother fell ill, his two sisters hoped that he would help. Hours and days passed. All hope appeared to be lost when their brother eventually breathed his last. Their brother dead, they buried him and some days later this great teacher they had hoped in turned up. Moved with compassion, this man brought hope when it appeared to have died by bringing him back to life. There are other stories of lost situations miraculously recovered. These say one thing – however dim the glimmer, however overwhelming the darkness, the smallest light says where there is life there is hope.
What we find exciting in some movies is that bit where it seems as though all avenues have been blocked and the hero is trapped in a perilous situation. Sadly for some life is like that without the miracle solution. So what happens when all hope appears gone? First realise that your situation as unique as it appears it is part of a story of similar dark episodes. In these, however there are seeds that provide the source for the belief that in spite of those dark days, as long as there is life, there is hope.
When the clouds are grey and the nights are long and lonely it’s difficult to hope in deliverance. Visiting that loved one as they undergo chemo therapy, unsure as to whether they will pull through it’s difficult to hope in deliverance. When there’s another relapse after so long it’s difficult to hope in deliverance. Yet every time we get out of some tricky situations we may think it is our ingenuity. In actuality there is an Unseen Mover delivering you. This is the start to have that assurance of the presence of One who delivers with His loving right hand.
The cry for deliverance is something that is as natural a part of the human condition as the need for food, clothes, shelter and relationship. Although we all need it in different ways whether economically, physically, relationally and spiritually, please spare a thought today for those who need to have deliverance from substance addition. For those who struggle under the pressure of temptation this part of the prayer is particularly apt. For that person share the message – there is hope of deliverance.