My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. (John 17:9-10)
Read: Matthew 27:11-31, Mark 15:2-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28 – 19:16
Relate: I love the movie Braveheart. There are few films past or present that can evoke such emotion and passion. There are so many great moments and lines in that film and its soundtrack is phenomenal. The only drawback is that it stars Mel Gibson and I can’t really say I am a fan of his. But that’s another issue. Two of those great movie moments are here:
React: It is a sad truth that America and the Western world has elevated the noble concept of freedom to the level of idolatry. Independence… freedom… rights. These words that are unassailable. Even such hot topics like abortion are couched in terms like “right to life” vs “freedom of choice”. Whose “rights” take precedence, the preborn child’s or the mother’s?
In reality, concepts like freedom and independence are merely fiction. We either belong to Christ or we are slaves to sin. There is no middle ground. So, as was asked a couple days before, the ultimate question is: whose are you?
Respond:
God, I belong to You. I am Yours. Forever, I am Yours. Do what You will in my life. Have Your way. My every breath is completely Yours. Help me to live a life surrendered.
THE RIVER WALK 
Well said.
Amen!
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I couldn’t agree more. As much as I love our country we have slid from the truth. Any moral without God becomes twisted and eventually broken. Praise Jesus Christ for His saving of our souls!
When you say : “the ultimate question is: whose are you?”
it made me think of that Bob Dylan song which he wrote during his struggle with becoming a Christian: ‘Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you’re gonna have to serve somebody.’
Thank you for the reminder!
🙂
You said, “It is a sad truth that America and the Western world has elevated the noble concept of freedom to the level of idolatry. Independence… freedom… rights. These words that are unassailable. Even such hot topics like abortion are couched in terms like “right to life” vs “freedom of choice”. Whose “rights” take precedence, the preborn child’s or the mother’s?”
The answer is BOTH the preborn and the mother! We trust God to make a way where there is no way and he is FAITHFUL and JUST. Nothing is too hard for God; he is ABLE. With men it is impossible but with God ALL things are possible. God can take everything that the devil meant for evil and use it for His Good. There is freedom in Christ for ALL, the west, the east, the north and the south. For freedom, Christ has set us free. If the Son sets you free you are free indeed, whether you live in America or India or Saudi Arabia or Israel.
“When a human being TURNS to Christ the Lord the veil is REMOVED! Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM” 2 Cor 3:16-17