“Oh, let us all from bondage flee (Let My people go)
– African American Spiritual
And let us all in Christ be free (Let My people go)
Go down Moses, way down in Egypt’s land;
Tell old Pharoah, Let my people go”*
When the children of Israel took up residence in Egypt, they never hoped they would be enslaved. God had used Joseph to save them and all of Egypt from starvation during a severe drought. Joseph’s work brought Egypt great prosperity and earned his family a favored status when they immigrated to Egypt. Sadly, a few hundred years later, the good that came from their God was forgotten and their descendants were enslaved by Pharaoh. The oppression weighted heavily and they called out to God. The Lord heard their prayers and ended their enslavement with mighty displays of power and mercy. The false gods of Egypt were put to shame and the Name of the Lord was made known in its strength and love for the lowly people of Israel.
Though they were free to live in love and harmony with their creator, sadly, the scriptures reveal there is another slavery they and we and all people face. We are all born slaves of sin. Sin distorts our best intentions, it turns God’s beloved human creatures throughout the world against each other and against God. Sin is a slavery that enslaves each person to fear, selfishness, and hate. Because of God’s rich mercy and because of the love with which He loves us, He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to fulfill righteousness and break us out of sin’s guilt and grip. He paid for our freedom with His life on the cross. For all who had, who have, and will have faith in Him, there is freedom. There is life. There is eternal purpose.
“For freedom you have been set free… (Galatians 5:1)”
When we feel afraid or terrorized by the world around us, when we worry about our inabilities, when we are frustrated by our self-sabotage and failures, we remember Christ and call out to God who answers with Word and Sacrament, with His declaration of victory for us, with forgiveness, the working of His Holy Spirit, and His renewed commission to love. Jesus breaks our chains of slavery to sin death and the schemes of satan.
Each Sunday this month of July we remember and rejoice that in Jesus’ victory we are…
“Free in Christ” Sundays in July
Free! to Proclaim Jesus – July 3
Free! to Love Our Neighbors – July 10
Free! to Rest in Jesus – July 17
Free! to Receive Good from God – July 24
Free! to Struggle in Love for Others – July 31
We pray the Lord would enliven and empower us to live in the peace Christ’s victory brings and to proclaim freedom for all by grace, through faith in Jesus.
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Stephen
*from the African American Spiritual “When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land” Hymnal: One and All Rejoice 345 © Public domain which we will sing together on July 10th.
