Saturday March 2nd, 2019 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
?where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (verse 17)
My dog likes to sneak out the side gate. It happens when I have my hands full. The latch doesn’t click and the next thing I know she’s gone. Ever watched a dog escape? There’s an expression of glee on their faces that’s different than when they’re on a w-a-l-k. I can only imagine what they’re thinking. Smells are heightened, strides are longer, there’s an unencumbered bounce to their step. FREEDOM!
We don’t experience that very often. We like our walls, restrictions and order; we prefer to colour in the lines and follow set schedules. It’s part of our cultural background and comes from societal pressure. Just look at the way many of us worship: we sit in pews that are lined up in rows, we follow an order that superficially changes weekly but remains constant in its standard, we sit/stand during specific times but if we speak out of turn or dance there’s someone to glare at or shush us.
Don’t get me wrong, order is comfortable and easy for worshippers. But don’t forget to experience the Spirit of the Lord: the freedom of running out the side gate and seeing things differently. The glee of being a part of Christ! Let’s look for moments where smells can be heightened, strides can be longer and a bounce can be found in our step: freedom.
Free us with your Spirit. Free us and fill us. Amen. — SNN
Contributed by Side Gate
My dog likes to sneak out the side gate. It happens when I have my hands full. The latch doesn't click and the next thing I know she's gone. Ever watched a dog escape? There's an expression of glee on their faces that's different than when they're on a w-a-l-k. I can only imagine what they're thinking. Smells are heightened, strides are longer, there's an unencumbered bounce to their step. FREEDOM!
We don't experience that very often. We like our walls, restrictions and order; we prefer to colour in the lines and follow set schedules. It's part of our cultural background and comes from societal pressure. Just look at the way many of us worship: we sit in pews that are lined up in rows, we follow an order that superficially changes weekly but remains constant in its standard, we sit/stand during specific times but if we speak out of turn or dance there's someone to glare at or shush us.
Don't get me wrong, order is comfortable and easy for worshippers. But don't forget to experience the Spirit of the Lord: the freedom of running out the side gate and seeing things differently. The glee of being a part of Christ! Let's look for moments where smells can be heightened, strides can be longer and a bounce can be found in our step: freedom.
