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A Freeing Atmosphere
Brian Mashburn
November 4, 2007
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A Freeing Atmosphere
My son Jakin asked me, "Dad, can we go to the coffee shop?" "Yes," I said, "there's a Starbucks right up here."
Jakin started to cry, which of course threw me. I asked him what was wrong.
He whimpered, "I wanted to go to the coffee shop and you won't let me."
When I explained that "Starbucks" is the name of the "coffee shop", he smiled big. He was getting exactly what he wanted from me, but didn't realize it.
I sometimes wonder if God feels like this with us? We long for freedom he sent Christ to give us freedom, and then we whimper up at Him pitifully explaining to him how we "want to be free, but you won't let me."
Brothers, hear me on this: Yes, He does.
Not only does God free you, but He frees you to free others. As a matter of fact, that's your new and primary job the moment you come up from the grave of baptism. Go and set people free.
So, how do we create an atmosphere of freedom for people like Christ did, so that people we love can have the freedom they long for?
1. Believe in and live out of your own freedom in Christ (very few of us do).
2. Relentlessly tell others about the freedom available to them through Christ (get ready for a fight - they won't believe you).
3. Challenge them to try it and see (you'll need to be patient- they will be very afraid).
4. Repeat the above over and over again for the rest of your life (In other words, die to this work and for this work).
...just like Christ.