Posts with the tag “freedom”

It seems like human nature to try and fill up whatever space we're given. We add, we cram, we complicate. And we often do the same thing with our faith. We’ve been given a simple and beautiful gift in Jesus, freedom in Christ, but we keep adding to it. We stack on extra rules. We lean on external identity markers. We grow afraid that grace alone might not be enough, so we tack on more. We start to rely on things that were never meant to carry the weight of our righteousness. Today we’re in the book of Galatians, where Paul addresses this very issue. The believers there were doing what we still often do: Building walls Jesus already tore down.  Read More

Paul writes to the Galatians with language that is almost startling—he calls the law a taskmaster, a custodian, even a jailer. He says it “locked us up.” Custody means confinement, not freedom. At first, the law was a guardian—meant to protect, to lead, to keep us safe until we were ready. But a guardian who never releases those in their care stops being a protector and becomes a captor. What began as a guide turns into bondage when it refuses to let go.  Read More

Most of us have a complicated relationship with money. Some of us worry we’ll never have enough. Others spend their lives chasing after more. And somewhere in between, most of us simply try to make good decisions and live responsibly. But then Jesus enters the conversation—and He takes things deeper than just smart financial planning. In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus says something startling: “You cannot serve both God and money.” Depending on the translation, it reads “wealth” or “riches.” But the original word Jesus used was the Aramaic term mammon. This word does more than describe a bank account. It points to a loyalty, a trust, even a kind of worship. And that’s where the conversation really begins.  Read More

The story of Jesus’ birth doesn’t end in the manger. Matthew 2 introduces us to a dramatic encounter between two kings: King Herod, a ruler consumed by insecurity, and Jesus, the newborn King of the Jews. Through the journey of the Magi, we are drawn into a narrative of contrasts—two kings, two kingdoms, two ways of life. Herod’s rule is defined by fear and paranoia, while Jesus’ reign embodies service, sacrifice, and hope. This story challenges us to reflect: are we building our lives like Herod’s kingdom or aligning with Jesus’ eternal Kingdom?  Read More