Freedom is something we can often take for granted. This morning I started my day by going to Church. I am free to worship and praise Jesus Christ, but in some parts of the world this is not the case.

I was reading this story about Christians in Nepal this week: “Eight Christians are currently awaiting trial later this month, accused of illicit evangelization. They were arrested and held in custody for nine days, charged with distributing a comic book explaining the story of Jesus as a gift at trauma relief sessions that were held in two schools in eastern Nepal this year as a response to the April 2015 earthquakes…. Pastor Tanka told Christian Today that there are in total 15 court cases waiting to be heard. Christians were arrested and beaten without reasons… Children are traumatized. The Government has prepared a law banning all types of freedom for religious minorities. …Pastor Tanka added: “It would be helpful if Christians in the West would talk to their Government through MPs to look at the Nepal situation and speak for us. Please urgently pray for Nepal and take some practical action against suppression of Christians in Nepal.” Source: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/go.to.jail.for.daring.to.evangelise.the.growing.threat.to.christians.in.nepal/97902.htm?print=1

The situation in China is also deeply disturbing. “The Chinese Communist Party is tightening its grip on worship and has released a new set of religious restrictions to come into place next month.  All unofficial religious activity will be suppressed with house churches forced to disband and strict travel restrictions in place as China continues its attempt to undermine the Vatican… One of the new rules says it will be an offence to “organize citizens to attend religious trainings, conferences and activities abroad”, “preaching, organizing religious activities, and establishing religious institutions or religious sites at schools” and “providing religious services through the internet” will be considered illegal. Under Chinese law it is illegal for children to receive a religious education.” Source:  http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/715834/China-Christians-launches-religious-winter-bid-destroy-Christianity

In Pakistan, Christians are also being persecuted.  Pakistani government officials have recently banned 11 Christian television channels in what local priests are calling a blow to religious freedom in the region.

“A Christian boy in Pakistan was forced to listen to his sister being gang raped after the family was targeted by locals demanding they convert to Islam. During the ordeal the boy and his sister were dragged into a van and taken to a house where they were blindfolded. Their captors told the boy that his sister was being raped next door – and that he could spare her from the ordeal by converting. He refused and managed to escape when his blindfold slipped, according to the British Pakistani Christian Association…. This family is deeply traumatized but safe now.” Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1928204/christian-boy-in-pakistan-forced-to-listen-to-sister-17-being-gang-raped-because-family-refused-to-covert-to-islam/

All of this news was reported in the last few weeks. For many of our brothers and sisters in Christ there is no freedom to worship without fear of persecution, torture, imprisonment and even death.

My heart breaks for them. Let us pray for them and advocate for their freedom using all resources at our disposal. Freedom of religion needs to be respected as a universal human right. Governments violating these human rights must be sanctioned.  Trade deals with countries violating human rights should be renegotiated in an attempt to end persecution.  Responsible government officials must understand that they will one day have to stand accountable to God for their decisions.

Those of us with faith must understand that our faith is a gift from God and it comes with a responsibility. One of the critical responsibilities we must accept is to pray for those who are suffering in our world. We must pray for the persecuted victims and we must pray for those persecuting them. We must pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit to change the hearts of those committing acts of evil.

Jesus Christ will one day judge all of us. Free will is a human right that God will not violate. We are free to make whatever decisions we like, but we will all have to face the consequences of our decisions and we will also have to face the consequences of our inaction.

“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.” Galatians 5:13

While there is still time let us repent of our sins. Let us go to Our Lord Jesus with confidence for He wants to forgive us. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Forgiveness is freedom!

Jesus wants to set us free and He also wants us to set others free. When we forgive others we become progressively free from the anger and disappointment that comes from being betrayed and hurt.

The ultimate price of freedom was paid by Jesus Christ when He chose to die for us.

“For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

To know the truth of Jesus Christ is freedom! But to deny that truth by sinning is tragedy! So let us pray that Jesus will give us the grace to remain faithful to Him.

One of the things that stands in the way of our freedom is self-deception.  If we don’t understand who we are supposed to be, we simply cannot fulfill our potential because we will be striving to be something we are not.  Until we realize that we are not defined by our academic or professional qualifications, by our status or our wealth, we will fail to appreciate our true identity is rooted in our relationship with God.  When I finally discovered that I was supposed to be a disciple of Christ I changed my priorities and began concentrating on understanding God’s Word and God’s Will so that I could please Him.

I will tell you a secret I have learned. By contemplating the Passion of Christ daily you will enter into a divine mystery that will enable you to begin to understand how much God loves you! When we open our hearts to see Our Crucified Lord being tortured for our redemption, suffering with such resolve, with such determination to create a place for us in Paradise, everything changes! I have been contemplating the Passion of Christ daily now for over ten years and everyday I stand in awe of the greatness of the love of Jesus Christ and that awe inspires me to give Him EVERYTHING!

Meet you, friends of Jesus, on Calvary at the foot of the Cross of Jesus, every day at 3pm (in your local time zones)! Let us pray together as ONE Body of Christ everyday at the Time Jesus died for us, 3pm. It’s the Hour of Mercy!  It’s the Time Jesus paid the enormous price for our eternal freedom in Paradise.

Holy Lord, my heart breaks for so many people being persecuted for their love of You, Holy Saviour! Please help them!  Please touch the hearts of those committing acts of violence so that they can be converted by Your infinite love and mercy.  Please send forth Your Holy Spirit Lord to bring peace for all people which is the ultimate freedom that You provide, peace for people of good will!

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18