Debt of Love

"The debt of love never diminishes when we pay it."
~ Henry Jacobson

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law... Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
~ Romans 13:8,10 (NIV)

"But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."
~ Matthew 5:39-41 (NIV)

But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
~ 1 Corinthians 6:6-7 (NKJV)

God's Word is a fascinating study in contrasts.

The Christian life is a balance between Christian liberty which allows us freedom to live free of law, surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ, and a life best blessed when lived as taught by Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, manifest in principles of the Bible.

Submission to authority is one principle. So is the concept of being willing to suffer for the sake of righteousness. Yet we are not to compel suffering of others, because God expects us to defend the weak from their oppressors—oppressors who are often those in authority.

How do we reconcile all the Bible's contrasts without conflict? What trumps rock-paper-scissors in a three-way contest which comes up tied?

The law of love trumps all.

God has poured out upon us such abundant love that we are forever in love's debt. The commandment "love thy neighbor" doesn't have exemption. We are to love the weak and defend them when it's inconvenient and without payoff, even at the cost of personal sacrifice. We are to love the authority, and not only give in to unreasonable demands (if they do not violate morals), but even "go the second mile." We are to prefer being wronged for the sake of love and unity, rather than raise conflict among Christians.

Christ set the ultimate example of suffering for the sake of righteousness to give us liberty. Among His last prayers was for unity among His followers. He said we'd be known as His by our love.

Liberty and unity and love will never be reconciled with living for Self.

Consider yet another contrast: Salvation was purchased at the highest possible cost and is given as a free gift—but carries an eternal debt of love.

Lord Jesus, Your grace commands our love. We cannot love You too much or follow Your example of love too extremely. Please lead us in Your footsteps.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Authority: Liberty, Equality, Stewardship

"When we do our duty, not for duty's sake, but because we believe
that God is engineering our circumstances in that way, then at the
very point of our obedience the whole superb grace of God is ours."
~ Oswald Chambers

Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
~ Romans 13:2 (NKJV)

I do not permit a woman to instruct, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.
~ 1 Timothy 2:12 (author)

Yesterday I waded. Today I'll go up to my neck and tackle women in authority and Christians in politics.

I served as a police officer for five years in the 80's. I also served as a "deaconess" in an elder function during the 90's in an aging church short on both male leadership and mature leadership. (I'd been following the Lord a scant 3 years when asked to serve.)

Now having better understanding of biblical principles, I consider neither position God's ideal, and don't recommend them to women. I don't believe armed combat—whether military or civilian—is the design for women by their Creator. And Paul teaches the wise principle that women not be placed in a position of instructing men what to do. (That qualified, I'll mention that I don't believe "instruction" includes the sharing of information and insight. I accept these from men who have no authority over me, and share them with men and women alike over whom I assume no authority. I try to keep a quiet spirit in doing so—unless I speak to an audience of women and turn on the preaching.)

Women are in no way inferior. Scripture emphasizes their equality to men. Though women are not to have dominion over their husbands, they are invaluable in key leadership positions. If a woman is in a position of authority, any man subordinate to her does well to respect her. Such a role hardly qualifies as immorality, nor does it undermine truths vital to salvation. God still uses His people wherever they are. The Bible simply establishes an order of men having authority over women, and life is best blessed when lived with the Lord's guidance.

One greater appreciates authority if it is seen as ordained by God. I thoroughly appreciate from police work the order inherent to authority. With rank came not superiority as a person, but the responsibility for decisions. Everyone is vital to an operation. Subordinates supply information and then obey without hesitation, or order collapses. Barring gross misconduct, they have in obedience liberty from liability—as do subordinates elsewhere.

If government is authority ordained by God, why shouldn't Christians serve there, without suffering the accusation that they fail to "separate church and state"? Where more than government does God need His light? Has He not always held rulers accountable to Himself for righteousness? If He entrusts to a Christian a position of government authority—and when Christians are entrusted with the right to vote—good stewardship exercises that trust for Him.

The Lord gives His children broad liberty to live out their faith. And His Holy Spirit draws us ever closer to His ideals, even as He guides us in that liberty, in equality, and in stewardship.

Father, I've done my best to communicate truth here according to Your Word, and as You've played it out in my life through Your Spirit. Please let my words be received with grace. Please make clear to each of us the way You'd have us live out Your Word and submit to authority.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

YHWH Your God, YHWH Our God

For July, each post examines an Old Testament name of God.

YHWH Elohe-ka / YHWH Your God
YHWH Elohe-nu / YHWH Our God

"I am YHWH your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
Out of the house of bondage.
You shall have no other gods before Me."
~ Exodus 20:2-3 (author)

For all people walk each in the name of his god,
But we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
Forever and ever.
~ Micah 4:5 (NKJV)

The Lord prefaces His presentation of the Ten Commandments with a clear statement of ownership. I am YHWH. I purchased you out of your bondage to those who serve other gods, and you are now Mine. I am your God.

No doubt many people might take a dim view of a God Who sets people free, then turns around and imposes a bunch of rules on them. Shouldn't freedom mean freedom from such restrictions? They would assert that He either isn't a good God or doesn't love them if He's going to set them free but then make their lives so miserable. They might even contend that no one else should have a right to tell them what to do, even if He is God.

Such is the modern view of religion. It's not too far off the mark. Religion is about obeying God as a duty. It's about a bunch of standards to which we'll never quite measure up. It's about law, judgment, and condemnation. It imposes a burden upon people they are unable to bear.

The answer to religion and its law is not lawlessness, which also imposes unbearable burden. The answer is relationship. Relationship is bound up in the name YHWH your God.

YHWH says "I am yours." As the God of His people, He sees to their every need. He receives their prayers. He disciplines so that they might experience ever greater blessing. He protects and preserves His people.

The ownership is mutual. God purchases those who are His. He gives them Himself in return. Because YHWH has declared, "I am your God," we have the privilege to call Him by the name Elohe-nu: Our God.

For believers in Jesus Christ, YHWH Our God even comes to live inside of us. Neither bound by law nor given to lawlessness, we walk in the liberty and power to live in the Spirit of the law, which gives life.

Your feedback is appreciated. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Adonai, Adon / Lord

For July, each post examines an Old Testament name of God.

Adonai, Adon / Lord
(pronounced: "ahd-oh-NAIY," "ah-DONE")

I saw the Lord [Adonai] sitting on a throne,
high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple...
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?"
Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
~ Isaiah 6:1,8 (NKJV)

Oh, give thanks to the Lord [Adon] of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:
~ Psalms 136:3 (NKJV)

My old pastor taught that complete obedience is immediate, thorough, and cheerful. I've found that immediate is compelled by fear, thorough is enabled by understanding, and cheerful—singing-as-you-go cheerful—is motivated by love.

Proverbs 9:10 instructs "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." It is a good thing to fear God, and immediately heed His commandments for fear of the discipline which disobedience may invite. Here is the beginning of wisdom.

As one matures, one comes to know what lies behind the commandment. One gains understanding that the commandment is not intended to restrict freedom, but to teach a child the proper use of liberty. Therein the mature son or daughter is set free from the letter of the law and enjoys the blessings of thorough obedience to the spirit of the law.

But the highest motivation for obedience is love. 1 John 4:18 reveals: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. The one who fears has not been made complete in love." The more we know and understand our Lord, the more we trust Him, and the greater our ability to fulfill the greatest commandment to love Him with all heart, soul, mind and strength. The more complete and perfected our love, the less we will operate out of fear. We will do His will because it is our delight. We will hear His call and eagerly respond, "Here am I! Send me!"

This is the essence of the difference between God being God and God being beloved Lord and Master. Adon is a word for lord (master, ruler, sovereign) which may apply to any human lord, and is often used for God when combined with other titles or names. Adonai is the word for Lord used only for divinity. Though usually translated "the Lord" (or occasionally "Sovereign"), its literal meaning in Hebrew is "my Lord." It conveys a relationship of willing servant, not servitude.

After the Ten Commandments were given, the very next passage describes such a relationship:
"If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing... But if the servant plainly says, 'I love my master [adon] ... I will not go out free,' then his master shall bring him to the judges ... and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever." (Exodus 21:2,5-6 NKJV)

In such love of the Lord we find not only freedom from fear, but joy in obedience.


Feedback appreciated! Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Elohenu Yeshua, Yasha / God of our Salvation, Savior

For July, each post examines an Old Testament name of God.

The Fourth of July holiday means many things to many people. Any holiday means food, family, and festivity. To children of all ages this particular holiday also means fireworks. (For my cop friends, it's the year's worst day to encounter people getting extra drunk and extra stupid.)

But to the patriotic, July 4, 1776 represents a day in history when men realized their freedom from tyranny. I use the word "realized" having in mind the definition "to give actual or physical form to a concept," and not "cause something desired or anticipated to happen; fulfill." Freedom was not fulfilled on this date. But it did become real and was given form on a fragile piece of parchment to which men sealed themselves. The fight for freedom would last another seven years until the Treaty of Paris brought the Revolutionary War to an end on September 3, 1783.

The historic patriots gained different kinds of freedom on those two moments in time, and during the intervening years. Freedom became real with a declaration, yet it did not become concrete experience until men struggled and laid down their lives to gradually make it their own—not unlike our salvation.

On one day two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ shed His blood and gave a declaration of independence from sin for every one of His followers with the shout, "It is finished!" Freedom becomes ours as a free gift, gained with our own declaration at the point in time when we give ourselves to Christ. Spiritual warfare will come to end on a future date. The intervening years of struggle are a progressive laying down of our lives to experience freedom.

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God who is producing in you
both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him.
Philippians 2:12-13 ISV

Among the names of God which appear in both the Old and New Testaments is "Savior." Two variations of the Hebrew word are:

Yasha / Savior (Isaiah 43:11; pronounced "yah-SHAH")
Elohe-nu Yeshua / God of our Salvation (Psalm 68:19-20;
pronounced "el-oh-HAY-noo yesh-OO-ah";
"Yeshua" is also the Hebrew name of Jesus)

The two words have slightly different connotations. Yesuha conveys the act of rescue or deliverance. Yasha conveys a wide or open space in the condition of safety and freedom.

Our God rescues us and gives us salvation from sin in the act accomplished by His Son Jesus Christ. He also continues to work with us to increase in our lives a condition of salvation found in freedom from sin, through the sanctification accomplished by His Holy Spirit.

"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36, NKJV)

Feedback appreciated! Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Pearl of Great Price

"By your perseverance acquire your souls."
~ Luke 21:19 (author)

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
~ Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV)

Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You."
~ Luke 18:28 (NKJV)

And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
~ Psalms 119:45 (NKJV)

The Pearl of Great Price parable is interpreted two ways. One says Jesus' kingdom is the pearl and we forfeit all to gain it. The other says His church—His bride—is the pearl of great price Jesus gave all to attain.

I see it both ways. What more could Jesus have given to purchase us? He asks all from us in return. Not to pay Him back. Not to earn salvation. We give all we are to Him because a man's soul defines all that he is, and Jesus purchased our souls.

In typical kingdom irony, God entrusts our forfeited souls back to us more fully than we ever had them to begin with. We once lived by commandments we could not keep, and were in bondage to sin. When Jesus' blood sets us free through repentance of sin, God grants for our souls to walk at liberty because we use our freedom to seek His ways.

Lord, what more could we possibly expect from You? You gave Your life to obtain our lives and make them everything You created them to be in the time before sin. Please permit us to better know You and trust You so we have no hindrance to obey. Please empower us by Your Holy Spirit to release to You whatever You're waiting to make whole.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

Fulfillment of the Law

"This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten."
~ Leviticus 11:46-47 (NKJV)

Eat whatever is set before you, asking no question ... Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God ... [seeking] the profit of many, that they may be saved.
~ 1 Corinthians 10:27,31-33 (NKJV)

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.... Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
~ Romans 13:8,10 (NKJV)

It would be difficult to closely associate with someone and never eat with them. The laws which instructed the Israelites to abstain from certain foods was one of the most effective ways to segregate them from the pagan people around them, and show them set apart to the LORD.

In Christ such restrictions no longer bind us. We are free to eat non-kosher foods and to abstain from them (not a bad idea considering how unhealthy they are). More important than what we eat is what brings glory to God? What gives offense? What brings others to know Christ?

Love is the fulfillment of the law. A healthy physician must be willing to enter the presence of sickness to bring healing. If we allow Christ's righteousness rather than self-righteousness to dominate our lives, then even in the presence of another's sin Christ's love will be displayed in us.

Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for Your perfect righteousness, available only through Your blood and given to us by Your Holy Spirit. Please give us discernment in how to yield to Your will and how to best manifest Your love to all around us.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.

The Law

"I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets."
~ Acts 24:14 (NKJV)

We know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless ...
~ 1 Timothy 1:8-9 (NKJV)

"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."
~ Matthew 24:11-12 (NKJV)

Thoughts from Scripture about the law of God.

The Law and Prophets are not enemies of Christianity, even when legalistic men wrongly use and apply them to impair Christian liberty.

The law is a good tutor to bring us to Christ, to teach us what sin is, and to exalt God.

Christ came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets in their entirety.

God reveals wondrous things in His law.

Jesus is the Word of God, He is truth, and His law is truth.

Those who love the law have great peace.

We know we are in the final hours of the last days, for we see false prophets deceiving even those within the church, we see lawlessness abound, and we see the love of many grow cold.

Almighty Father, You have exalted above all things your name and your word, and every word you have given us is good. Please teach us to love Your law so we will not stumble. Please teach us to accept Christ's fulfilment of the law on our behalf in grateful, gracious liberty.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy

All Things Are Lawful

"Therefore my judgment is that we don't trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from [meat of] strangled [animals], and from blood."
~ Acts 15:19-20 (HNV)

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any... Beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
~ 1 Corinthians 6:12; 8:9 (NKJV)

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
~ Romans 13:8 (NIV)

Twenty-three years ago I heard and accepted the Gospel's message of salvation, but received no message of repentance from sin. I expected to have happiness once I had neither the curse of death hanging over my head nor the need to worry about sin. I was utterly miserable.

After three years I began to walk with the Lord. I sensed that life in Christ ought to be free of sin, and struggled to understand how to distinguish right from wrong in a world of gray. Living by the law later reassured me, until the religion of legalism produced its own pride-filled misery.

The New Testament teaches a law of liberty and love. All things are lawful for me, yet love for God compels me to honor Him, and love of neighbor means my liberty will not cause injury or offense.

Pure Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship of unconditional love with God and man.

Gracious Father, You are worthy of our highest love. Obedience to Your commandments is not burdensome, but a happy debt of love. No one is a greater wretch than we have been. Everyone worthy of Your love is worthy of ours. Help us to love one another as You have loved us.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy

Rose Blossoms in the Desert

The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose ...
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing...
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:1,5-6,10 (NKJV)

For the creation was subjected to futility ... creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ~ Romans 8:20-21 (NKJV)

Then [the other criminal] said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." ~ Luke 23:42-43 (NKJV)

God created only good. Sin entered the world, and with it the death and suffering and sorrow to which our bodies are in bondage. The physical creation waits for the liberation it will receive when the Lord restores perfection.

But the spiritual is already liberated from bondage. Anyone in Christ is already a new creation, a child of God living in glorious liberty and eternal life. The ransomed drink of the Holy Spirit's living waters in the desert of this world. The kingdom is now within us.

The dying thief asked to join Jesus in His Kingdom, and that day he entered Paradise by faith. In the day we join ourselves to Jesus, we enter His spiritual Paradise, living as rose blossoms in the desert. Our eyes and ears are opened, our tongues and limbs are loosed to praise.

The kingdom is yet at war. Will you today fight hard the battle the soul wages to live in the spirit's liberty rather than the body's bondage?

Holy One, thank You for the blood of our King, that we might live in His kingdom, the fragrance of Your life now ours. Please lead us to streams of waters in the desert of death all around us. Please be continually opening our eyes and ears, and loosing our limbs and tongues. Please arm us for the battle.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy

Broad is the Way

He humbles those who dwell on high,
he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground and casts it down to the dust...
The path of the righteous is level;
O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.
Isaiah 26:5,7 (NIV)

"Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it." ~ Matthew 7:13-14 (HNV)

I have seen an end to all perfection;
Your command is exceedingly broad.
Oh how I love Your Law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Psalms 119:96-97 (LITV)

Contrasts bring the Bible alive! Isaiah describes the proud as being laid low—leveled—and humbled. Yet the way of the one who is righteous (because he humbles himself) is also level, for the Lord makes his way smooth.

Jesus warned that broad is the way which leads to destruction—a highway with many travelers headed to hell fast and casually—while the gate to enter life is narrow and the way restricted—restricted to Jesus and Him alone. No one comes to the Father except through Christ.

Then one enters life, and discovers that the once restrictive commandment is liberal and broad. "Thou shall not" is now promise fulfilled and describes the condition of my heart. Perfection itself has limits, but the commandment is exceedingly liberating by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Who but our God of wonders could say "broad is the way of destruction," and then perfect His commandment in broad liberty? What an awe-inspiring God we have!

God of Wonders, You are holy and good. We readily declare Your majesty and might. We are awed that You have chosen us for life and led us there and given us the gift of faith. Please help us yield to the power of Your Spirit, and perfect in us the good work You have begun.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. © 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

Liberty’s Responsibility

Everything is allowable to me, but not everything is profitable. Everything is allowable to me, but to nothing will I become a slave.
(1 Corinthians 6:12 WNT)

"What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers? ... The sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go ... you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."
(Matthew 17:25,27 NKJV)

"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
(John 8:36 NKJV)

Being a child of the King means freedom—and responsibility. Life as a slave of law is seemingly easier, when every move is governed by the commandment. Once the commandment is met, one can see obligation as fulfilled and expend no further effort.

Life as royalty requires far more. Duty demands meeting the very spirit of the law. We must not offend. We are never "off the clock." We are required to think about our actions—does this profit? Or will it make me its slave?

Lord Jesus our Savior, thank You for the cross. Thank You for our liberty. Thank You for Your Spirit, to guide us in Your perfect way, through which our Father means to abundantly bless us.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. © 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

Liberty

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and . (Romans 8:1-2 NKJV)

Each July 4 is an exuberant celebration of freedom. 232 years ago we secured by shed blood our liberty from the crown of Britain’s law and oppression. How much greater is the liberty purchased 1978 years ago at Calvary!

I have been set free from the oppression and condemnation of sin – as has every other person who is in Christ. If God no longer condemns those in Christ, who are we to condemn one another?

And this is how I know I am in Christ: I consistently walk according to the Spirit and His will rather than according to the flesh and my will.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy

Amazing Grace

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of ? (Romans 7:23-24 NKJV)

I thank God! It is through Jesus Christ our Lord that I know the amazing grace that saved a wretch like me and is even now making me increasingly free. A slave who has been set free is legally free, but how long does it take to stop thinking and believing and acting like a slave? Thank You, Father, for giving so freely of Your Holy Spirit available through Your Son Jesus. Thank You for giving me in my mind greater freedom each day, to match the freedom that is already a reality but which can be so hard to live as a reality. Thank You, Jesus, for preparing a home for me where I will someday be fully free from sin’s presence. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for tolerating the sin in my members of flesh, in which You graciously come to dwell.

Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy