Liberty and the Standards of Jesus

Mea e 'ai e tatau ma le aso
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free ”
(Galatians 5:1).

A spiritually-minded person will never come to you and say—“Believe this and that”; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus.

We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39–40). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions.  Jesus said, "...Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." In other words, are you teaching biblical truths according to His word, or your own thoughts and opinions?  Because if it is not from Him alone, it will be rooted up.

And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty—the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute authority of Jesus Christ, exemplified and demonstrated in your life.

Always measure your life solely by the standards set by Jesus, never by man.  Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ.

It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that, unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong.  That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty—the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience mind, enabling and encouraging  us to do what is right.

Don’t get impatient with others.  Remember how God dealt with you—He did with great patience and with gentleness.  But also never water down the truths of God.  Let it have its way in God's good time and never apologize for it.  Jesus said, “Go  and make disciples ” (Matthew 28:19), not, “Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions.”

Ia manuia,

failauga p. anoa'i