HOW TO
Key text:
Luke 12:31
Thursday, August 27
Freedom in Prison by James Kempster
Freedom! It’s the stuff daydreams are made of. At some point in
our lives it may become a consuming passion—we have to be free to
do what we want to do. But some of us soon discover that freedom is
the result of having some form of power. If we are powerless it is
difficult (make that impossible) to be free.
We seek all kinds of power: financial, political, educational, phys-
ical, and spiritual. A prison seeks to thwart our freedom by denying
us power. In prison, money is meaningless, political connections are
fruitless, a Ph.D. is pointless, and muscles atrophy; but, as Paul
demonstrates, our spiritual powers can continue regardless of tem-
poral circumstances. Paul used spiritual power, power that is avail-
able to any of us through the Holy Spirit, to transcend the restric-
tions of imprisonment.
Prisons with their chains and concrete, however frightening, are
not nearly as threatening to our personal freedom as the prisons we
build through our own choices. We are constantly faced with choices
that have the potential of making us powerless. If we choose not to
educate ourselves we lose our intellectual power. If we choose to be
slothful we can lose our financial power. If we refuse to be involved
in community or social issues we may lose political power. We may
even lose our physical, moral, and spiritual powers by abuse—the
use of drugs or harmful health patterns, for example—or by the fail-
ure to listen to the spiritual side of our nature. We can make our
own prisons or break our own chains, it all depends on how we re-
late to spiritual power. (Of course we do not “do it” on our own, but
that’s another topic.)
How can we gain or retain real freedom?
1. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”
Notice the use of the word kingdom. It implies power, spiritual
power. By searching out the “ways of God” we develop this spiritual
power that is a freeing force. Prayer, meditation, Bible study, and
worship are all “spiritual aerobics.” Spiritual power is superior to
all other powers, while the lack of it undermines all other powers.
This is one of the lessons of Paul’s experience.
2. Consider your choices.
The emotion of the moment may prompt you to make a decision
that will turn out to be a future prison. Look ahead. Will your deci-
sion aid in obtaining freeing power, or will you find yourself “boxed
in” tomorrow by your choice today? Slavery to tobacco, alcohol,
drugs, or even your passions, is slavery under any circumstances.
3. Praise God.
Paul had financial power, political power, and intellectual power
commensurate with his position as a Jewish leader, then he met the
Christ. The working of the Holy Spirit in his life developed his spir-
itual power and brought a freedom that superseded all he had be-
fore. He acknowledged the source of that power to the world, and the
world listened. When we acknowledge our source of power others
will listen too.
James Kempster is professor of music at Pacific Union College,
Angwin, California.
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