Romans 6:16 (NIV)  
Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Any exploration of freedom must consider the issue of slavery.  If asked, most people would say that we have abolished slavery in this country.  Unfortunately, the slavery we’re thinking of in this question does exist in isolated cases, but there is another kind of slavery that is extremely prevalent.  We are slaves to our debt, our “stuff,” arrogance and prejudice, work or careers, even slaves to individualism.  Sin is that which separates us from God, and we, in our natural state, are slaves to sin.

Anything that becomes our singular focus separates us from each other and separates us from God.  That focus becomes our master.  Just looking at the example of work or career: When we think we are so indispensable that we skip our children’s events, rarely get home for a family dinner or lose touch with what’s happening in the lives of our loved ones, we have become slaves to our jobs, separated from God. Whether it’s career, money, sports or anything else, if it becomes the primary focus, preventing us from time with God, than our Master is not God.

With God’s help we can be free.  Jesus Christ is the way to freedom, the way to be free from the affects of sin.  Through our baptism in Jesus Christ we are reconciled to God, to hope, to newness of life.  When we become slaves to Christ, then we become free.

But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  Genesis 50:19-20

Last Sunday, our congregation was blessed with the incredible musical “Joseph – from the Pit to the Palace.”  Joseph (both of them) told us that his leadership, and good deeds were all God’s work, not his own.  The choir, dancers, drummers, actors and tech crew reinforced this by giving a week of their time and half of their weekend to share this message with us, and others in our community.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."  Matthew 9:36-38

In this portion of the 9th chapter of Matthew, Jesus healed all who were sick of body, mind and spirit.  He felt the pressure of so many needing help, who were coming for his healing and message.  Jesus retained his compassion for those in the crowd – an emotion that goes to the core of our being as Christians.  Jesus knew that something needed to be done; that these people needed a leader and hope.  He sent out disciples to proclaim his word and help others.  Although in our minds they could easily be heroes, in reality they were a motley crew of fishermen with no seminary training, a tax collector, and one who was continually putting his foot in his mouth.  Indeed, Jesus kept in his employ one who stole from the group and ultimately betrayed him. 

Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.   Matthew 9:22

Matthew 9 finds Jesus a very busy man.  In the course of a few days, he:

• “Hired” the unqualified Matthew to be his disciple.
• Joined society’s undesirables for dinner, followed by a lecture and dialogue with the Pharisees on exactly why he dined with these people.
• Brought at girl back from the dead, while people made fun of him.
• Healed many along the way.

Who were these people that were important enough for Jesus to run around and perform miracles for?  They were quite a crew – first Matthew, who hung around with murderers, thieves, and tax collectors.  Secondly, a leader of the synagogue who would have been on the side of Jesus’ opponents.  He came to Jesus in desperation because his daughter had just died.  Jesus was his last hope.  The third was a woman with a medical problem who could not attend synagogue or participate in any religious ceremonies.  She was shut out from everyone.  Lastly, the body of a young girl whose funeral was in progress.  Jesus saw her with the light still in her, and he saw each of those he helped as children in need  All of these people had something in common with us, they needed someone to see them in a different light.  We face challenges today – health problems, job interviews, poor decisions.  People don’t see us for who we are.

Matthew 7:21-22 (NIV)  
    "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

Note the use of the word “we” in verse 22.  Sounds rather egocentric, doesn’t it? Indeed, not everyone who says “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. God will look at what, and who is in your heart.  So when we live and serve Christ as the people of God, our words and actions should be “Christ-centric.”

Key to this idea is our foundation. Firmly grounded, we will not sway from speaking and acting in truth.  That foundation is the word.  And that foundation is love.  Everything God does is about love and giving.  He gave us life and all of creation.  He gave us His son, who gave His life.  With that two-fold solid foundation of Word and Love at the core of what we do, it should be a natural reaction to do unto others the right thing. On a daily basis, rise and shine and care for the hungry, the mourning, the hospitalized, the imprisoned.  Be an example of Christian love to co-workers, co-volunteers, neighbors, family and friends. Be a reflection of Christ.  Be and act like the people of God.  Even when it isn’t easy.

Unlike the Pharisees who proclaimed their own righteous obedience, be quiet and humble, seeking, and probably getting, no attention or praise.  Seek as your reward the joy of touching somebody’s heart in Jesus’ name.  There may be sacrifice, suffering, pain or embarrassment.  Others may complain about our goodness to others if it inconveniences them.  But loving each other, from the greatest to the least, is what being people of God is all about.