Our freedom as God’s children has been demonstrated by the Lord Jesus through his work on earth. Jesus came to set us free. He came to bring down every barrier that limits us from exercising our power of bonafide children of God. He refused to be stiffened by the dictates of the law. He kept doing good regardless of the possible backlashes of the pharisees and the synagogue officials.
“One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.”
Jealousy and envy against Jesus.
Having healed this woman who had suffered for eighteen years, the synagogue officials were indignant. They began to remonstrate Jesus for healing on the Sabbath day. This is a clear indication that there is no good thing we do that can satisfy those who do not want us. Acceptance doe not really depend on what we do, rather on how what we do affect others. If its suites them, they will accept us, if not they will reject us. For the synagogue officials, Jesus was gaining undue influence. Seeing him winning the crowd was a threat to them. Their reaction was because of the threat to their relevance. On the part of the woman and those who Jesus had ministered to; he was their expected Saviour.
Moreover, oftentimes, our coldness or unproductivity can be protected by the system, and we begin to shudder when someone else ushers in a new lease. We hide behind technicalities and deny the realities that look at us in the face. The suffering of this poor woman should have invoked pity in the officials, rather, they were not concerned. They rather criticized the new things which God was doing in their midst.
Our freedom as God’s children
The bottom line is this, we should continue to do the good things the Lord has placed into our heart irrespective of the of criticisms we may receive from others. We have the freedom as God’s children to operate on his promptings. Paul said to the Romans “Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children, we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.” Romans 8:12-17
As we exercise our freedom as God’s children, may we continue to be built up against any form of discouragement. Amen.
Romans 8:12-17, Luke 13:10-17
Fr Oluwafemi Victor Orilua CSSp
