“So, Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law” (Gal. 5:1, NLT). With freedom given by Christ, we can overcome human limitations, walk out of darkness, and live in the light. The Spirit of the Lord is with us as we teach the Good News of the Gospel to all nations, proclaiming freedom to the poor and oppressed. Despite the disorder in the Halls of Congress and hateful words spewed by national leaders, hypocrites, and hate mongrels, America still stands as a beacon of hope for those seeking freedom in body and spirit.
All human bodies have limitations. However, with Christ abiding and the Holy Spirit counseling, victory over drug addiction, alcoholism, hatred, anger, and other desires of the flesh is possible. With Him, all things are possible. Make your body a living sacrifice to the Lord; with His power, sin has no dominion over you. Have drugs taken control of your mind? “I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and ever-increasing wickedness, now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness” (Rom. 6:19). Too many people mock anyone, even their brothers and sisters in Christ, who are striving to overcome human limitations. Stand your ground and strive for God’s righteousness and holiness, for “God is not mocked” (Gal. 6:7). Do not be ashamed to present your body to Him as holy, an instrument of God’s righteousness.
Those who mock godliness “are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance due to the hardening of their hearts” (Eph. 4:18). Because of the weakness of human nature, we become slaves to immorality and lawlessness. We need to live in the present, stop trying to recapture what was, and see the greatness of what is. We do not need to make America great again; we need to appreciate the greatness of what America is. The Scripture says, "God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him” (Acts 17:30, NLT). Jesus and the apostles proclaimed repentance and forgiveness to all nations, first to those in Damascus and Jerusalem, then to Judea and the Gentiles (Acts 26:20). Americans need to repent and realize that every American needs to make a concerted effort to follow the Lord’s Way and His Truth.
Satan has the power to masquerade as an angel of light and can, therefore, lie in the name of the Lord. Lies from any source can lead us astray. Satan deceived Eve, and she encouraged Adam to succumb to his lies. The result was that both of them, with their human limitations, reaped what they had sown. Do not allow Satan to exploit your human limitations.
Minister Nettie Pennington, Associate Minister, Springfield MB Church
