A Denial …

I am American… born free… given freedom. I am under obligation to none. I am not bound to give of my labors unless I so choose. No man can demand that I give myself to a life of servitude, comply with their prejudices and wishes, as if a “slave”; undergoing all manner of affliction and persecution; forced into behaving towards them with all meekness and humility; condescending to their weakness and accommodating myself to their capacities and customs.

I have my freedom, my rights and yet, Christ calls, no demands that I deny myself; carry my cross (Mark 8:34; Matthew 16:24) giving Him my freedom and yes, my rights, my vote.

Paul demonstrated it best in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-27 when God inspired him to write:

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified”.

Today, I encourage you to “run that you may obtain”. We may all run as to obtain. There is room for all to receive the prize. We cannot fail if we run well. So today, my dear friend: Persist constantly, strive diligently, and vigorously, throwing all encumbrances aside (Hebrews 12: 1), and perchance, we meet along the road, God will give us both His smile.