Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Free will

Human beings value their freedom very much. There have been many wars throughout history and to this day over personal freedom. Free will, a gift from God, enables us to be free to make our own choices, but also comes with some responsibilities.

We know many instances where countries and perhaps where individuals within a family take away another's freedom. Unfortunately with our weaknesses as individuals we sometimes get ourselves into situations that compromise our freedom. How many "crosses" are of our own making?

Throughout the ministry of Christ, He constantly, but gently, urged His listeners to follow Him and His way. The Jewish people of His day were bound by hundreds of laws that they were to follow. The term "yoke of the law" referred to that reality. Instead, Christ said, "Take MY YOKE upon you and learn of me because I am meek and humble of heart and you shall find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29-30)

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"I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it.

I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor:
the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third — by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy.

Many souls ... are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul.

If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy".