It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
Freedom
According to the Global Affairs Canada website, “Canada believes freedom of expression is at the core of human individuality and is one of the essential foundations of a safe and prosperous society. The right of everyone to hold opinions without interference and the right to freedom of expression are in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, whether orally, in writing or in print, or through any other media of choice.”
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Slavery is a horrible practice. In the day in which we live, you would think that slavery would no longer be acceptable and would be rare. Sadly, this isn’t the case. According to the 2022 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, there are 49.6 million slaves in the world today, with one quarter of them being children. Christians have long been warriors against slavery and we need to continue to be. The Bible speaks of spiritual slavery, something all who are without Christ find themselves bound by. The apostle Paul writes about this in Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Jesus is opposed to slavery in all its ugly forms, whether it is slavery to sin, or enslavement to another human being for their benefit. By His death on the cross, Jesus can set free any man, woman or child who is enslaved to sin and sinful habits and lifestyles. He then calls us who have been set free to help others who are still enslaved to sin, or to other human beings.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley