Freedom In Four Vital Areas Of Life Which Cripple And Limit Many
The words of Jesus Christ were always so simple and practical. This wonderful lesson for life comes from Luke Chapter 12 verses 22 to 34, where Jesus is speaking to disciples, at a time when crowds are surrounding Him. These words of Jesus are for disciples, and if you are a disciple then these words are for you, and we so need to hear Jesus in these present days.
And – if you are not a disciple, you can become one!
Jesus is speaking to disciples about the dangers and hazards and pitfalls along the way. They are like warning signposts on the motorway or highway. It is as if Jesus is coning off certain sections – coning off certain paths – closing down a few lanes. Jesus knows that there are roads, which are a hindrance to us – they can hamper us – they are dangerous. If we travel on some of these roads, there could be sad and tragic consequences.
We do not need to travel down the road called hypocrisy. We do not need to wear a mask or seek to impress people. That is a tremendous freedom – not to have to go down that road. We may not realise it now – just how many people are working so hard at trying to impress others.
We don’t need to travel down the road of fear. That is a very busy road. People can even be afraid that they are not impressing others. Jesus warns about GREED – being so concerned about selfishly accumulating riches and wealth – without having a single thought for others. There was that poor rich man, who invested in the wrong place assuming that he had many more years to live. How very wrong he was. He did not even have 24 hours left on this earth, and then he would have to leave everything.
Jesus Christ releases people from hypocrisy (acting a role or playing games) – fear – being selfishly greedy. These are big important areas to be set free from. We do not have to travel down these roads.
Then Jesus says, “Do not worry about your life – what you will eat – or about your body and how you will clothe it.” These words are being spoken to disciples. Jesus is saying to us – Follow Me and I will help you avoid all worry.
Wealth can be as much a problem to those who have a lot of money as well as those who do not have much. Those who have plenty and those who have very little, tend to worry.
Jesus Christ is saying “Don’t worry – rather trust.”
Might that apply to you as you read this article? Think for a few moments of what He is offering – freedom and release from hypocrisy, fear, greed and worry.
And some have the audacity to consider the Christian life as boring and tedious.
That is one thing it certainly is not, and there is freedom from these hazards and can cripple and limit in so many ways.
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled “Word from Scotland” on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com
