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Reverend Paul Collings BTh (Hons) - - - - paul.collings@methodist.org.uk - - - - 01392 206229 - - - - 07941 880768

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Saturday, 11 May 2024

The work of the Spirit is to give liberty.


In Corinthians 3:17 we find Paul saying to the church, ‘By “the Lord” what I mean is the Spirit, and in any heart where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is liberty.’

The story is told of an aspiring artist who was commissioned to create a large sculpture for a famous museum. At last he had the opportunity to create the masterpiece he had long dreamed of. After labouring over the work for many years, he saw it grow not only in shape but in beauty. But when it was finished he discovered to his horror that it was much too large to be taken out a window or door and that the cost for tearing down part of the building in order to remove it was prohibitive. His masterpiece was forever a captive to the room in which it was created.


Someone once said that he had on his table a violin string. It is free to move in any direction he liked. If he twisted one end, it responds; it is free. But it is not free to sing. So he takes it and fixes it into his violin. He binds it and when it is bound, it is free for the first time to sing.


The Scottish theologian William Barclay qualifies the biblical freedom as, “Christian freedom does not mean being free to do as we like: it means being free to do as we ought.” At some point, every Christian needs to realise that they are free in Christ but what does that mean. Freedom in Christ is being free to be the person God wants us to be and that means becoming more like Jesus. This means that we can live as people Christ has freed and continues to free through the Holy Spirit.


Holy Spirit, I long to walk in the full freedom that You give.  Break the chains of the law, sin and addiction. Free me to live with joy and worship without restrain. I’ll love You and live for You because You’ve freed me to do so.  I choose You.  You’re my love.  I receive Your freedom by faith in Jesus name, amen.


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