Liberty is often used interchangeably with freedom but they come from different root words. Freedom concerns our internal freedom of thought. It is what goes on inside our heads, which others do not know what is in there, unless we express it. This internal freedom cannot be taken from us, but we can give it away by believing lies.
Liberty is more of an external form of freedom that includes toleration of people and ideas we do not agree with. It is the ability to express oneself in society without fear of oppression. It also includes a voluntary level of self- restraint that does not infringe on the ability of others to verbally express themselves. We can honor others we disagree with, because we are all equal before God.
Liberty is also used in several Bible translations to explain the Biblical Year of Jubilee. To overcome injustices, every 50 years, property was to revert to the original owners, slaves set free, debts forgiven, and more. 2020 is a year of Jubilee. It is interesting that, in a year of Jubilee, our liberties are under attack?
With Covid-19, the world has come under layers of restrictions that effect our liberties. Recently, other things have layered on top of the pandemic. All of them together have created a muddle of fear and oppression…if we allow it to affect us that way. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, have been given freedom and liberty in Him. Jesus stood up in His home town of Nazareth and read from Isaiah 61.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19
How did those who heard Him respond to His declaration? They wanted to kill him. But it was not yet the time or manner God required. He walked free though the crowd that had pushed Him to the edge a cliff.
The enemy of our souls, Satan, is attempting to push us over the edge of the preverbal cliff. His representatives, unseen and seen, unknowingly and sometimes knowingly, are working hard to keep our eyes and ears off of the truth that, we, the true followers of Jesus Christ, have authority from our Creator, as His children, to stand with Jesus in both freedom and liberty. Luke 4:18-19 is for us too.
I believe, now is neither the time nor the manner, which God intends for His children to give into fear and oppression. It is good for us to remember who we are and whose we are. We are children of the Living God. Fear not. We have all the wisdom we need available to us. James 1:6 ; God will never leave us. Matthew 28: 20; Hebrews 13:5.
The Apostle Paul reminds us, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” Ephesians 1:13. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
Because we have the power and love of God with us, let’s step boldly into the original intentions of this year of Jubilee. We can Love, forgive, pray for miracles, and speak boldly of the love of our Creator to all who will hear. Acts 4:23-31 Let’s walk lovingly in all the liberty God has freely given.
How is the Holy Spirit inviting you specifically to join in?
