Freedom!

Good morning everyone. This is a day God created and I intend to live it with praise on my lips and joy in my heart. And that’s regardless of the state of our nation and world (Psalm 118:24)!

The following scriptures truly fortified my spirit this morning.

(Hebrews 4:14-16)

“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most”.

Before some godly men and community activists introduced me to Jesus Christ I had some serious doubts about the Gospel. I thought it was the “white mans religion” used to suppress African-Americans especially during slavery. I detested the images I saw of Jesus in paintings. He looked soft with flowing hair and He was always Caucasian...not manly at all. I wanted no part of Him or Christianity because I was militant and angry and saw how Christianity was manipulated to keep white folks in power. On the streets we had a saying, “if you’re scared go to Church” and I wasn’t scared.

In other words Jesus Christ just wasn’t Black enough for me! That is until I opened my heart and received Him as my personal Savior. That’s when the scales fell off of my eyes and I stopped seeing the world in black and white. I received spiritual, panoramic, technicolor eyesight and went from victim to victor. I finally received the freedom I couldn’t find in heroin and alcohol. The internal freedom that couldn’t be legislated or bought. That elusive freedom that could only come from Jesus Christ. We legislate justice, freedom comes from Jesus!

(John 8:36)

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free”.

You may ask yourself “how is that relevant today”. I’m glad you asked. Jesus suffered the most brutal form of police brutality (from Roman soldiers) imaginable at the hands of His own people and the repressive Roman government. And just like George Floyd he was executed in plain view of everyone. I can imagine if social media was available His crucifixion would have went viral. But on the third day after the crucifixion, out of the eyesight of everyone, God raised Him from the dead. That power surpassed all the power of the Roman military police and government. It surpassed the wicked principalities and powers in high places driving the murder and hate. It surpassed the oppression and racism of that day.

And we have access to that same resurrection power (Romans 8:11)!

Experiencing that resurrection power enables me to fight for justice, speak truth to power, write from my heart, preach with conviction, pray and worship in spirit and truth and finally love with God’s love!

If you’ve tried every thing else and still feel angry, lonely, tired, depressed, hopeless and maybe have thoughts of suicide...try Jesus. He won’t let you down!

(Hebrews 7:25 NLT)

“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf”.