Dear Family

Freedom means different things to different people. Our own South African context is perhaps an obvious one to understand, but there are many other forms of lack of freedom or bondage in which people find themselves. Debt, slavery, oppression, addiction, captivity, crime, abuse, greed, self-centeredness, fears of every description, issues of the past and so the list goes on. Many people spend their entire lives struggling against their “captor” and the reality is that even believers are often found in a similar position.

The Bible gives us incredible hope for all our bondages. Obviously it starts with the freedom from the power of sin in our lives we gain in Christ. That glorious starting point whereby God takes us out of the dominion of darkness and plants us into the kingdom of light – new creatures freed to worship Him. But then the journey begins – extricating ourselves from incorrect thought patterns and beliefs about ourselves, life and God. It’s His glorious word, the power of His Spirit, and the decision of our wills which combine to get us free. I am not of the opinion that these are merely psychological crutches to help us hobble along in a life of hopelessness, but rather a source of unlimited power enabling us to undo the works of darkness in our lives and to overcome. God wants us to be victors alongside His Son. That’s the point of the whole story. Over-comers in love with God, focused on Him and not on our issues.

In John 8:32-36 (selected verses) Jesus said, “…If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free….I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

And that’s really what freedom is all about – holding to His teaching by following Him and watching the shackles fly!

If you know bondage to anything other than Jesus, why not decide to choose His way, His life, His freedom. He simply invites us to die to self daily and to follow Him.

Paul