| by Jeffrey Caldwell (Redwood City, California) |
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| True Values of the Kingdom of God for the Bride of Christ: In respect to the family the Father and the Son are building, freedom the supreme value! God has more freedom than any created being. Sometimes we say, quite truly, “God is love”–God always chooses godly love–the very nature of His holiness! His is a HOLY love. His holy teaching guidance, His holy commandments guidance–in HOLY love. The GENUINE freedom of God that He wants for all of His children is HOLY freedom. All of the LORD’s holy days – the weekly Sabbath, the annual Sabbaths and even His sabbatical years – each, in its own way, a celebration of that genuine holy freedom! Holy freedom is the WAY of Christ. Our Everlasting Father always chooses holy love, and desires His children do the same–ultimately making possible His everlasting glorious Kingdom family, when the Father will dwell with us, His children, all of us in loving harmony and peace. Every citizen of that glorious Kingdom always and forever choosing constructiveness and wisdom, as does our Father in Heaven. God’s commandments, along with the whole counsel and doctrine of God, are guidance in His holy love! Supremely, Christ enjoins His holy nation BE “holy” as He is holy: “He who sent out his call to you is holy, and you, too, modeling yourselves on him, should become holy in all your conduct. For, as scripture says, “You shall be holy because I am holy”! (1 Peter 1:15-16, Cassirer). The “passion” of “Christ our Passover”–the Holy One–the Lamb of God–is freedom! The Holy One suffered and died that we be free as He is free. God is free and wants His children free AS He is free. EVERY one of the LORD’s holy days celebrates freedom, the GENUINE freedom that God desires for all of His children–HOLY freedom–agreement with Him in the Way. God CHOOSES holy love, always. He wants us, freely “into”–enjoying immensely, as He does– holy choices. He wants His holy spirit of godly freedom to guide our lives. “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature [God would never do that]. Instead use your freedom to serve one another in love [exactly as the Father and the Son do with each other and with all others]. For the whole law [guidance in the way of holy freedom] can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” (Galatians 5:13-15 New Living Translation). |
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