Jesus + freedom

Imagine you've got a serious problem.  People are asking, "Is this the result of bad things you've done; or somehow connected to your family issues?"

Then you have an encounter with Jesus...  

He basically says "No, it has nothing to do with your junk, or your family's junk."  He then proceeds to set you free.  Free, meaning you no longer have the problem.  Seriously.  Your whole life is changed.  You can see things you never saw before, enjoy life like never before, and any stigma from your past is completely gone.  That's the kind of thing Jesus does because that's who He is, and He enjoys doing it.

So you're relishing your new found freedom, but strangely, it doesn't produce the same kind of happiness in others.  Have you ever experienced rejection, on the heels of something good happening?

Some people are mystified.  Some just can't believe it.  Some "religious" ones are the most critical and reactive.  Others say "he claims Jesus set him free, but that can't be true, what a weirdo."

It doesn't stop there.  Some of your "friends" get so angry they write you off.  They say you can't hang out with them anymore.  They unfriend you.  They say you've got a mental problem.  What a strange equation; "Jesus + freedom = rejection"  

Really??

When you try to explain it they get more angry, and accuse you of being arrogant, thinking you're better than they are.  You keep pointing to Jesus and to your freedom, thinking they would really appreciate finding the same kind of happiness.  Wrong.

Now you've found freedom, you've been rejected (and have a new stigma), but you wouldn't trade it for anything.

In fact, you feel even more challenged by Jesus to follow Him and walk with Him in this new life.  All with the promise of ongoing freedom.  And you're hoping to find some new friends who will understand and walk with you.

This is the story of the guy Jesus healed in John 9, check it out.  It's also my story.  It might be your story.?  I wasn't physically blind but I was living without hope; trying to fill the void with anything that would bring comfort.  Then I encountered Jesus.

Sometimes "Jesus + freedom = acceptance"  

Sometimes "Jesus + freedom = rejection"

Sometimes "Jesus + freedom = unchartered territory"

We can get too focused on the result and lose sight of this simple truth.  Jesus + freedom is worth it all.  

Maybe there aren't any simple answers as to why you're in the place you're in.  Maybe no one needs to be blamed?  We all need forgiveness and none of us deserves His love.  

Maybe letting go of what you don't understand is the first step toward Jesus?

Just maybe Jesus is coming to you right now and offering you freedom.  You know He can do it.  And yes, He wants to.  Just ask Him and see what happens.

Jesus said "A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."  John 10:10 Message translation

The neighbor's barking dog

Luke 10:25-28  On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”  He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”  “You have answered correctly,” 

Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”  

How can you love your neighbor when their dog barks all night long?

Hot summer nights, swamp cooler blowing, windows open, 2am, just like clockwork, wrruuff, wrruuff, wrruuff...  That's the sound of the German Shepherd coming from the neighbor's yard directly behind us.

I sleep-walk to the kitchen window to see what's going on.  All their lights are off, but the big dog is wide awake.

Irritated I walk outside and try talking to him, "Hey, what are you doing?  Come here boy!  Shut up!"  The German Shepherd won't be reasoned with.  Even praying he will experience peace and go to sleep.  Nothing works.  I can't imagine the owner isn't hearing this.  

The only problem with ear plugs is your ears weren't made to wear them.  You know that "ear fatigue" you get after a few hours.  

Put all that together and you've got a recipe for boiling anger.  After a few nights I'm imagining the neighbor must be on drugs or a drug dealer or out of the country.  And I'm imagining the dog dying from some unknown cause...

At the same time I'm thinking "love your neighbor as yourself."  What does that mean?  I'll love my neighbor better when his dog stops barking.  

Finally I decide (last resort) to go over to "meet the neighbor."  I spend a little time praying.  "Lord, help me to love my neighbor.  You know this guy.  Is there something you're trying to tell me in this situation?"  It is amazing how prayer, thinking about what Jesus says, and talking to somebody can reframe everything.

One afternoon I finally walk around the block and knock on his front door.  A guy comes to the door, looks half asleep.  I introduce myself and begin to "nicely" describe the situation.  "Hey, I wanted to meet you.  I live right behind you.  You may not know this but..."

Come to find out he is an Aurora Police Officer who works the night shift so he's been gone every night this happens and had no idea.  His wife recently left him.  He profusely apologizes and says it won't happen again.  

Ok, I'm a jerk.  My neighbor is now my new friend and whenever I see his dog I'm reminded to pray for him.  

I didn't do so well in my heart, mind or actions.  But meeting and talking to my neighbor changed everything.  Maybe it was a great lesson in "love your neighbor as yourself;" in how talking to my neighbor disarmed most of my frustration, and seeing him as a person (beyond "owner of stupid barking dog") brought much needed perspective and compassion.

Yes, I've got another barking-dog-neighbor story that didn't end so well.  

But Jesus was right in saying "do this and you will live."  It literally meant "do these things and you will have the kind of life I give."  Every situation is different.  Getting out of my comfort zone and meeting my neighbor was exactly what God had in mind.  Maybe He was using the barking dog to bring a neighbor around the block to a guy who was at the end of his rope?  And revealing to me how far I had to go in loving God and loving my neighbor.  Discomfort and irritation is sometimes the pathway to experiencing new life.

Praying instead of complaining and reciting offenses

Step 3 in “Checking your Baggage” is learning to pray instead of complaining and reciting offenses.  

cour·age  the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous

re·straint  a measure or condition that keeps someone or something under control or within limits.

What if true courage and self-control are inseparably bound together, a by-product of yielding to Jesus?  What if we exhibit many of the character traits of Jesus, except for the ones marked by restraint?  What if the primary obstacle to our spiritual growth is self-control?    

And what if God knows that growth in our prayer lives (and ultimately our connection with Him) is connected with courage and restraint?  If true, God may allow us to encounter situations that drive us to prayer.  Oh what fun...

Many years ago I was working for a guy who would “go off” on people and humiliate them publicly and privately.  My friend and I escaped to lunch almost every day to commiserate and “recount the latest happenings.”  I’ll never forget sitting in my buddy's yellow Datsun, with melting tar on the floorboard staining the sides of my shiny white Reeboks… 

Anyway, because we were both followers of Jesus my friend got the idea that we should start praying every day before we went back into the office.  Instead of merely asking forgiveness for complaining, we would repent and ask forgiveness for our own sins (the things in our own hearts and lives that were similar to what we were offended by).  Interestingly, that affected the rest of our conversation, because you end up complaining less when you know you are going to ask God to reveal your own shortcomings.

So what was the result of praying in this way? 

First of all, our boss started to change.  It was weird and unexpected.  He became more self-aware and admitted his problem (btw, others changing isn't always the result nor the goal).

Secondly, we ended up feeling more compassion for him, and were generally more humble in our perspective and actions (and we became better employees).

Third, we started believing in the power of prayer.  We weren't praying for him to change, but were turning the focus of our prayers to personal humility and repentance.  Around that time I heard someone say, “the most powerful weapon you have in spiritual warfare is repentance.”  So true...

Finally, it seemed a door began to open to good stuff, which was experienced by us and others.

That is how we began to experience the kingdom of God, through the gifts of courage and restraint.  I say gifts because they really were gifts and not something we could muster up.  And it has become a powerful and effective way to check my baggage over the years.

Are you in a tough situation?  Can you start by confessing your own sins, and repenting of them?  It’s as simple as saying “I confess x in my own heart and life, and I repent and turn from it now.  Lord, have mercy on me and forgive me.  Search my heart and reveal any other areas of sin, and please forgive me.  Cause me to love with your love.  Give me courage and self-control…”

Then praying blessing for the other person “Lord forgive me for judging x, for complaining and reciting offenses.  I choose to forgive them and release them to you, and pray for your blessing on them.  Reveal your great love to them.”

Of course there is always a place for speaking the truth in love to the person. But speaking the truth in love to the person is not complaining and reciting offenses to other people.

Speaking the truth in love always goes better when preceded by prayer, repentance and humility.  And whenever we experience that kind of self-control and release through prayer, we die to our need to speak up and to make them pay.  

Courage, restraint and prayer.  Maybe they are more connected to our freedom than we know.