Freedom

Margaret Thatcher famously said, "When people are free to chose, they chose to be free."

Chinese politicians may take a different view from  the Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, and Hillary Clinton is caught in the middle. 

But when we say, "I want to be free to do my own thing", we usually mean getting our own way, while ignoring the views and actions of others. My freedom usually has implications on the freedom of other people, particularly those closest to me.

People sometime misquote Jesus on this topic, for he said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." The suggestion is that any sort of 'truth' might have a transforming effect on our situation. But what Jesus actually said was different. ' Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8.31-32)

True freedom, as set out by Jesus, comes from our being close disciples of his, taking the trouble to make sure that we are faithful to his teaching and walking alongside Him daily. That will bring us true freedom. As Jesus went on to say, "So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." (John 8.36)

The greatest gift we can give to those we meet is to point to Jesus as the One who alone can give us the freedom for which we long. being a servant of Jesus Christ is what we were made for, and therefore is an experience of profound freedom. As St. Augustine prayed, Your service is perfect freedom. May that be our experience today.

Best wishes,

Richard