“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
A few years ago I took part in a three-day human rights forum at a settlement near the Mediterranean Sea for my work as a journalist. I can’t write much about it for discretion’s sake. My room mate was a freedom fighter in his home country, also a Christian, and it was incredibly humbling to meet and spend time with him. He was extremely friendly and respectful and, despite the language difficulties (he was not English), we managed a dialogue of sorts. I learnt that he was involved in helping fellow believers in Jesus who were being unjustly prosecuted by local police. He was himself being closely monitored.
One morning during this forum the sad news came that a well-known human rights advocate had been killed. I was sitting in the bedroom by myself when I read the story and sat quietly for a while, thinking about it. Then the outer door opened and my roommate appeared. I could see his head bowed in the shadow of the hallway outside the room and he stepped forward slowly with an atmosphere of sadness.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He replied that he’d heard about the human rights advocate being killed.
“Yes, I know,” I replied. “I am so sorry. It’s so hard for you.”
Then he said words that I will never, ever forget… “Yes, but we carry on.”
He looked at me simply with steadfast determination. I felt like a child encountering the magnanimous maturity in this man who had already sacrificed so much for others.
I want to explain that “carrying on” for this man meant literally putting his life on the line for freedom. It opened my eyes to the fact that away from the news, in places you and I have probably barely heard of, there are men and women willing to stand up against evil forces because they believe in the greater good. They’re not famous. They’re just sowing seeds of God’s kingdom and quietly reaping souls for salvation behind the scenes.
Christ has set us free and with that comes a responsibility to stand up for freedom in whatever context we find ourselves in. I am conscious that we live in a world that often rattles the word “rights,” which can easily be manipulated into a form of self-centeredness. Meaning I have rights and they are more important than yours.
That is NOT what I am talking about. Instead I am referring to the rights that come from hearts radically transformed by the love of Jesus Christ to the point that they live and seek and breathe the righteousness inspired by kindness. “Love each other” is the second commandment by the Lord and for people like my roommate that is an all-encompassing life philosophy, which is undeviating, relentless – and an incredible example to the rest of us!
Donations (click here) for the running costs of this devotional blog are appreciated.
Leave a comment