March 17, 2026
Good Day Allen Temple Family and Friends,
It is my hope you have enjoyed our beautiful weather and finding ways to "Manage the Middle."
The Journey Ad Deum continues...last week we referenced the words of Jesus in John 8:36: if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. We named FREEDOM as one of the gifts we have received that helps us live triumphantly through Christ. To receive and enjoy the gift, we must identify what may be keeping us bound.
For some, this is a quick and easy task. For others, it takes time, prayer and reflection. The things that bind us are not always obvious. They often show up in the patterns we cannot seem to break; the reactions we cannot seem to control or the fear and worry that can drive our decisions. The freedom Christ gives always begins with truth.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:16 to walk by the Spirit. Freedom is not simply the removal of something that holds us captive. There must also be a willingness to live under new leadership. When fear, pressure, or old patterns guide us, we will find ourselves circling back to the very things that keep us bound. But when we decide to walk by the Spirit, our lives begin to move steadily toward God.
We are also reminded never only personal. When Jesus began his ministry, he preached good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom for the oppressed. This freedom doesn't just change hearts, but it seeks to transform lives.
In a time when so many communities are wrestling with questions of justice, fairness, peace, and equity, disciples of Christ understand freedom is more than spiritual language. It shapes how we see our neighbors and how we respond to the issues around us.
This is how freedom becomes the pathway to living triumphantly through Christ. Triumph is not found in controlling every circumstance. It is found in allowing God to shape our hearts, guide our actions, and move us to live lives that reflect God’s justice, mercy, and love.
You have received your Lenten devotional for the week. But take some time to read and wrestle with Galatians 5 - all of it. Then let me know what part of the chapter resonates and why.
Remember, Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. (5:1)
