Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Read: Exodus 11
“Then Yahweh said to Moses, ‘I will send just one more disaster on Pharaoh and his land, and after that he will let you go… about midnight I will pass through Egypt. And all the oldest sons shall die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest child of Pharaoh, heir to his throne, to the oldest child of his lowliest slave; and even the firstborn of the animals’” (c.f. 11:1, 5).
There is a price to freedom. And it isn’t cheap. Think of what freedom means to you. Some may say that it’s the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want. Others say that freedom is not worrying about the stresses of life, just living as you see fit. Others still, may say it is real life. For us, freedom is the ability to live as God commanded us to without hesitation or restriction. It’s the ability to respond in perfect love to His commands knowing that you’re doing the right thing.
When God demanded the Israelites freedom from Pharaoh, the price involved many things, not the least of which was the firstborn of every Egyptian household. It was this bloodshed that brought them freedom.
His freedom is for all who are captive, which is anyone who has ever sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. News flash— that’s all of us! “Yahweh sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children” (Galatians 4:5). We’re orphans, but our Heavenly Father stops at nothing to give good gifts to His children. One of those gifts is freedom—from pain, sorrow, addiction, loneliness, depression, and more. The price of freedom is blood. Just like in Egypt where first-born Egyptian blood bought freedom for Israel, so Yahweh’s Firstborn’s blood offers freedom to the world.
Without bloodshed, there can be no freedom. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of that. He is the Firstborn of Yahweh, He is the perfect sacrifice. He is our salvation.
“For you have been called to live in freedom – not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13).
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)
Process:
Do you have freedom? Yes? Great! How has your freedom affected your family, friends, school, and city?
You don’t have freedom? What will it take to obtain it? What are you bound to? Spend time with your cell group and share what’s keeping you in captivity.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Read: Exodus 12
“What? I have neighbors?” This is a question that is rarely asked but many Christians act as if they live in an underground bubble on a deserted island. Christian isolation is not the way God wants us to live. Jesus said that the greatest commandments are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
Way back in the Old Testament God made His people love their neighbors. In Exodus 12:4 each household of Israel was told to take a lamb for their family but if that family was too small to eat the lamb by itself it would share the meal with their nearest neighbors. The scriptures didn’t just say closest neighbor relationship-wise but the nearest neighbor.
So as we think of our nearest neighbors, how can we love them? How can we show that we love them? If our neighbors are having problems with their health and we know that they don’t have anyone to take care of them what should we do? Should we pass by them without helping because it might mess up our schedule? We are called to care for our neighbors and their families as well. Love isn’t a word it is an action.
We are not called to be soldiers not by word of mouth but by action. We can say we are soldiers. We can say we love our neighbors. We can even say that red is green and green is blue but it doesn’t make it true. We have to actively love our neighbors. It is time we stop living like no one else matters. In the end it is not about us. I dare you to show your neighbors that you care. This may be difficult; they may seem like they don’t like you. Well, go out of your way to show them you still care. When they are sick be the first one to pay them a visit. When the cat runs away be the first one to offer to help look for it.
Yes we all have neighbors. Now love them.
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22).
Process:
What do you think authentic Christian community looks like? Discuss what you would like to see in the Christian Community.
Who are some “neighbors” that you know?
Have you shared with them your lives and the Gospel yet?