9Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
Wiersbe, Warren W.: Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament reminded me, “…whatever a Christian does, even if it does not hurt him, must never hurt anyone else. While we may think that this principle limits us, it really does not, for it allows us to be a greater blessing to others and to win the lost to Christ…”
When you are free, you want to run! Flying becomes an option when you have spent a lifetime under bondage. I am reminded of soldiers who continued to fight after World War II because they never knew that the war was over and that they no longer had to fight. They were free. I remember several of my friends who were in special operations in the military who had the dubious task of being dropped behind enemy lines telling me of the joys of releasing American prisoners of war. To them being “free” took some getting used to.
Grace has set us free! However, this grace and freedom does not blind us to our influence on those around us. I watch Jesus “live” in front of the disciples and especially in front of those who are his inner circle. He was careful for their sakes. He was not lax in his approach to grace. He journeyed with these special friends for a little over three years. They saw him laugh and I am certain they saw him cry. The watched the way he related to those who were broken with love and compassion (and even tears) and he demonstrated complete control when being harassed by religious law keeping leaders who knew nothing of freedom.
People are special to Christ. If they are special to the Son of God, then it would follow that we, too, should care deeply about those He cared so deeply. Oh, yes we are free to live. Our hearts are releaseded from guilt and forgiveness is complete. It is interesting that we no longer find ourselves in the middle of the picture. We genuinely care about other people.
She lived next door to her sister. Her sister’s husband was smitten with cancer. He had already been to the doctor and now it was time for cancer treatments. Several times a week his wife would have to taker her husband to endure treatments that made him unbelievably sick and the recovery was seemingly worse than the illness. Watching her sister and wife of this dear man deal with this whole process moved her heart. Knowing that as a teacher she had her summers free and knowing that her sister had to work every day, she asked that she be allowed to care for her sister by letting her go back to work and care for her sister’s husband during the summer while she was free. She put her life on hold. She put herself aside. She cared about someone else. In a world where it is really “all about me” we can see the difference that Christ makes in our lives when it becomes about some one else. She limited her liberty and freedom for the benefit of folk she loved.
The connection for me is not hard. If that is true in giving your life for others and caring about where other people are – then it would follow that we care about where other people are in their walk with Christ. Exercising great care in our judgments and journey is important. We do not live in a vacuum. Our lives affect others.
Help me exercise great care today. Help me care as I journey with ohter people today. There is a big difference between doing what I want to do and doing what I ought to do. I am free to do both.
