“Why is it that dictators and governments throughout our world persist in persecuting the people of God? They may be divided in everything else, but they unite in their endeavors to free themselves from the restraints of religion.” (Quoted from “Psalms Now” by Brandt/Corita, Psalm 2, p 8.)

We don’t like to be told what to believe or how to live our lives.  We like to be free to make our own choices.  Many are willing to fight and even die for this freedom.  But often freedom is an illusion.  We say we are free to live as we choose, but are we?  Paul says, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” (Romans 7:15)  He means that although he tries (and wants) to do what is good and right he finds he is not able to.  He sums it up saying, “So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” (Rom. 7:25)

The rulers of this world who are persecuting God’s people, and the sin ruling in our lives, do not have the final word.  God has the final word.  The only way to be truly free is to serve God.  In Jesus Christ, we find the only true freedom.  Jesus frees us from our bondage to sin and he frees us to be the people we were created to be.  Read Psalm 2 and Romans 7:7-25, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Warren