Can God count on you?

Thursday, January 3, 2019

When Liberty Leads to Destruction

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Galatians 5:13–15

One of the men chosen to represent Maryland at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, to set up a new government for the United States was James McHenry. McHenry was a doctor who immigrated from Ireland and served in the Revolutionary War with George Washington. The fort in Maryland where Francis Scott Key saw the Stars and Stripes still waving after a night of British bombardment is named for him.

Much of what we know about the discussions and agreements that led to the passage of the Constitution comes from a diary McHenry kept during the proceedings. On September 18, 1787, the day after the members of the body signed the Constitution and adjourned, McHenry recorded this exchange (with his original spelling and capitalization intact):

a lady asked Dr. Franklin
well Doctor what we got
a republic or a monarchy—
A republic replied the Doctor
if you can keep it.
The lady here aluded to was
Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia

Continuing freedom is not a guarantee, in either the political world or in the spiritual realm. It can easily be lost. Paul warned, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). There are many ways in which freedom can be lost, but one of the most common in both human government and individual spiritual lives is for people to become selfish and focused only on themselves. When liberty becomes license, it will not be long before it is lost.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

When we use our liberty to serve others rather than ourselves, we keep it from being lost.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Giving God Your Best   CURRENT TV SERIES Generosity

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” --1 Peter 2:9 Do you ever think about your significance to God? You and I are very important to him! Across the centuries, the followers of Jesus Christ have been his hands and face to the world. Like the generations of believers before ours, and those who will come after us, we, too, are “a chosen generation”! And God is counting on us. That’s why it is so important that you and I do our part in the work of the Lord. You and I, we are part of his temple, the body of Christ. Peter said we are “living stones” in this church. And there’s no such thing as a one brick building! And so, as believers, we are all in this together. We belong together. In fact, we are better together that we are alone. You see, you cannot build your life alone, and you can’t build the church that way, either. That is God’s design. Peter also tells us that “we are a holy nation.” As followers of Jesus Christ you and I are called to live unique and distinctive lives, separated from the world. And here’s why. He has called you out of the world so that you can go back into the world with the Gospel as his ambassadors. And an ambassador’s job is critical. An ambassador represents one nation in the land of another. I hope that speaks to your heart like it does mine. You and I are called to represent Jesus Christ to our world. Do you believe that you are significant to God? He has taken your life and placed you into his church, the family of God. He has made you an ambassador to the world. And he needs you to live a holy life so that the world can recognize him in you. You are chosen! Now you know a little better how important you are to God and how he desires to use you to bring others to him. So, let me ask you, are you doing your part in the body of Christ? Are you living a holy life? Can the world see him in your actions and reactions? I know you count on him for things in your life. Now it’s time to tell him that he can count on you. Ask him and he will show you how you can be all that he created you to be!   LIVE A HOLY LIFE SO THAT THE WORLD CAN RECOGNIZE CHRIST IN YOU