Ordinary Time

Pause

Freedom is a noun.

Freedom means being exempt from external control.

Christ preached freedom, lived freedom, and offered freedom to all.

We have the opportunity to live into the freedom of Jesus Christ and also the responsibility to work toward ensuring others may live into their God-given freedom. Let the Spirit move in, around, and through you today, that you might live freely in Christ our Lord.

Listen

Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again.

Galatians 5:1

Think

The story behind the popular hymn “Amazing Grace” is that a former slave trader gave his life to Christ and penned the hymn as a prayer of deliverance. The author, recognizing God’s grace, gave up the slave trade and turned to ministry. Congregations often sing the hymn around Easter, and it’s quite popular with bagpipes at funerals, too. Written in 1779, the hymn has been printed and recorded internationally innumerable times, with the US Library of Congress housing a collection of over 3,000 versions of the hymn.

Contemporary Christian artist Chris Tomlin adapted the hymn to include the following words: “My chains are gone / I’ve been set free / My God, my Savior has ransomed me / And like a flood / His mercy reigns / Unending love, amazing grace.”

Friends, hear the good news: Christ has set us free! We are ransomed that we may be free from our chains. Rest today in the amazing grace of Christ; he has set you free, and you are free indeed.

Katie Barrett Todd

Pray

God of amazing grace, help me to accept your grace when I feel I don’t deserve it. You’ve brought me through dangers, toils, and snares, setting me free. Now let my heart feel your unending love and your grace lead me safely home. Amen.

Go

South African freedom hero Nelson Mandela said: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

Freedom requires us to live so that all may be free. Christ’s freedom is not for one person, but for every person.

Go today into the world and fight for the freedom of another.

Go today to let the world taste the unending love of Christ through loving your neighbor.

And go today letting the Spirit change your motivations. Live free, and fight for freedom.