And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
--Deuteronomy 10:12-13
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
“Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did.
--John 8:31-39
I rejoice in the freedom that I have as an American! This freedom has given me an independent spirit, an education, and the ability to choose such things as my mate. And I have chosen well!
My husband is Todd Tyler. Todd works for a gas pipeline company and his office is based out of Montezuma with his area extending from Ulysses to Greensburg. He is so excited that I am your new pastor and is my biggest supporter as well as the perfect partner. He enjoys cooking and hunting as well as most sports—especially the ones that his kids are participating in.
Through the years Todd and I have raised four children – Heath, Tana, Andrew, and Annie.
Heath is the oldest and currently lives in Lawrence.
Tana is our second child and is with us this morning.
This summer, Tana is working as a Youth Intern for the First United Methodist Church of Winfield. She is majoring in Psychology and would like to pursue a career in counseling. We are excited that she is considering seminary following the completion of her Bachelors’ Degree.
Next we have the twins.
Andy is the oldest by a couple of minutes.
This fall he will be a junior and has been attending Ulysses High School. He is smart and witty. His main sport is swimming, which he has been competing in since he was 10.
It is just fun to watch him glide through the water. This past fall he also took on Cross Country and is looking forward to continuing running again this year. This summer he is busy lifeguarding in Ulysses.
Finally, we have Annie.
She will also be a junior this fall and has been attending Satanta High School. Annie is also a swimmer but has jumped right into high school sports trying everything—volleyball, basketball, and softball. It has been fun to watch her experience new things.
She is brave, smart, and sassy…with a beautiful smile and big heart. We look forward to her new adventures. This summer she is lifeguarding in Satanta.
You will learn lots more about my family over the years. What a privilege it is to be the wife and mother of this crew. This momma enjoys watching high school sports, singing, and reading. I am a seminary student attending Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky. Although most of my courses are online, I will go to campus once or twice a semester for on-campus classes. Right now I’m almost halfway done!
Over the last twenty years I have worked in the field of education…as a teacher, grant writer, and then as an educational consultant in the area of technology.
A few years ago I was in Philadelphia for an educational conference and I saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War. Here, an eternal flame burns in honor of those who gave their lives.
The quote on it really struck me…
Freedom is a light for which many men have died in darkness.
It’s a quote that haunts me…because I so take this freedom for granted. I am free! Free to say what I want, go where I want, and believe what I want. I can get an education, start a new business, and own my own property. I can earn, spend, save, and give as much as I choose to. I can vote. I can protest. I can pray. All of these freedoms come in the American package…because someone was willing to die in darkness…many someones.
But folks, these kinds of freedom are not enough. In our country we still have loneliness, disease, depression, aggression, resentment, idleness, homelessness, hatred, and a fair helping of debauchery.
You see, American freedom doesn’t guarantee health, wealth, and wisdom. If just gives people the ability to make choices. And many will choose poorly. In fact, all of us at one time or another, will choose poorly. So American freedom, although unique and wonderful, is not complete freedom. Our choices result in sin…and we, no matter who we are, become slaves to this sin.
And there are many sins to which we can become slaves…lying, cheating, stealing. Or possibly an addiction whether it be to a substance (such as alcohol or drugs) or a behavior (such as pornography or gambling). All of us, at one time or another, become slaves to a sin…to a poor choice.
And that’s where Jesus comes in. Although being an American citizen allows us the freedom to make such choices, Jesus offers us a type of freedom that no country can offer. He offers us freedom from the slavery to which our sin (our own choices) has bound us. True freedom! Christian freedom!
We can let go of the guilt and the shame that hold us prisoner when we sin. We can let go of the anger and sadness that want to overpower us when our choices lead us down the wrong road. We don’t have to STAY on that road! Jesus, folks, has paid the price to make sure that we don’t! Forgiveness and FREEDOM are yours if you choose it.
“But, Gina?” you may ask. “If I am free to do anything…? If I am forgiven of all sins, does this mean that anything is permissible? I can indulge myself in sin, yet walk in freedom because Jesus has paid the price?”
Let me read you what Paul says about this very thing in his letter to the people of Galatia.
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
"If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."
You see, although everything is permissible not everything is beneficial. (1 Corinthians 10:23)
And although our sinful nature tries to drive us to make those permissible, indulgent choices, the Holy Spirit (if we are Christians) fights to guide us into choices that are, instead, beneficial to ourselves and to others. And if we are growing in God’s grace, we will notice that these choices become easier and easier…and the indulgent, destructive choices become less and less appealing.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. New ones will come along. Satan will find new ways to tempt you into destructive choices. He has ways to make destruction look awfully appealing by wrapping it in seductive packaging. So you’d better know what it is that will seduce you. Is it money? Sex? Over indulgence of food or spending or drinking? Maybe it’s laziness? Or selfish ambition? Pride?
Oh, there’s something. And if that something doesn’t tempt you into a bad choice, the tempter will find another something to try to draw you into slavery to a sin.
Be strong, brothers and sisters. We have already won this battle. Jesus Christ fought it for us two thousand years ago…and when he said, “It is finished”…it was finished.
Let’s watch a short video that illustrates that freedom that we’re discussing this morning.
Go forth today in the freedom of Christ…loving your neighbor as yourself.
I enjoyed reading the sermon and seeing the video. Thanks for putting it online
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