we have been set free.

1 Thessalonians 1:3

Typically, we’d say we like to spend the majority of our time with individuals who share common interests, mutual friends, preferred foods, or perhaps even those who attend the same congregation we do. Friendships usually come easier to those whom we respect and admire certain things about, such as personality, character, and ability. This week I spent most of my time with the most impressive 77-year-old man I’ve ever known—one of the elders here at the Northside Church of Christ, Mr. Keith Burnett.

Although I may not be married, he sure has taught me a lot about the importance of the godly wife in his life, and has challenged the way I think of my future as a young man. Before completing his second year at Florida College, he arrived back home (Illinois) to work on his family’s farm for a year in order to save money to return in the fall. Not long after his last year, he met a young lady at a gospel meeting who, according to him, “had the most striking southern singing voice in the state of Kentucky.” He exchanged phone numbers with her in front of her boyfriend at the time, who had just bought a new red convertible that was parked right outside. “Should’ve asked if I could’ve had the car with her too had I thought quicker!”

Humility is an aspect of his life that I admire most. At first I was a bit caught off guard seeing him enter the side door of the building before a bible study wearing his overalls, work gloves, and straw hat—but I soon began to appreciate his genuine love for others and love for the LORD during these times. I’ve never met anyone with the bible knowledge he has, nor have I discovered anyone with such a respect for God’s word like he does. The group bible studies have been very productive, the visits with elderly have been humbling, talks with people in the community have been interesting, but I must confess that the one-on-one studies with this guy are by far the most insightful, overwhelming, awesome lessons I’ve ever had a part in. I find myself even more excited now when I hear the squeaking of his old pickup truck coming to a halt outside as we engage in another study of the bible…and occasionally dinosaurs, giants, history of the Chinese language, life back in the 1960’s, and his frequent travels to the bible land.

Mark 16:15-16

Studying the bible intently has never become so real for me until now. Between the multiple group studies throughout the week examining it, prison/nursing home visits reading it, teaching and preaching applying it, and constantly hearing it quoted by him, God’s word has never had such an impact on me as it has during these last few days! In 2 Timothy 3:16, the apostle Paul writes: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” There is so much work to be done for Him—He has truly given us everything we need through His word. Why waste another minute doing something for ourselves, when we have such a greater purpose and serve a God who has been so merciful, gracious, and forgiving of us when we’ve fallen short of His glory so many times?

1 Peter 1:24-25

Reading Galatians 5:16-26 has never been so powerful to me than it was today when studying it with the inmates here in the jail. The looks on several faces of those sitting in the same room as us who had broken the law exposed guilt and sadness for what they had done, and where their sin had led them. I think it’s easy for us to look at criminals and comfort ourselves with the assertion that we’re not nearly as bad as they are—when we continue to live our lives in relaxation forgetting the nastiness of our own sins and how unworthy we are before our holy, Heavenly Father who has forgiven us of horrific sins and given us a hope of eternal life with Him.

We may see certain sins as worse because they have greater earthly consequences, but it's all the same to God. If only we could see sin as He sees it.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke (bondage) of slavery… for you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:1, 13 (ESV)

What a blessing to know that despite our sinfulness we have been set free.