Sometimes when I have a long workout on my exercise bike, I’ll just put on a movie, and it helps to pass the time. The other night I came across a film that I had heard about and never had the chance to watch. It was called “Free State of Jones”. It is based on a true story of a man named Newt Knight who was a medic in the Confederate army. He leaves his unit when his young nephew is killed in battle and returns home to Jones County, Alabama to bury his kin. At home he sees how the Confederate government has stripped all the goods and animals from the ordinary people to fund the war effort. Because he is now a deserter, he flees to the swamps and finds refuge with runaway slaves, farmers and other deserters. They all end up working together to lead a rebellion in the heart of the South and declare all the people, in their Free State of Jones, free and have rights that are God given. They make it through the Civil War and then with the emancipation of all slaves…seek to secure the rights of all people as guaranteed by our constitution. The movie shows the push for real freedom for all but then in the aftermath of the Civil War, life becomes hard and deadly for all those who were former slaves. The corrupt government and bigotry are portrayed, and I remember that it was an accepted way of treating people even in my lifetime. Because of our sin, we struggle with the concept that in reality, we are all on the same journey here on earth. And the movie reminds us that part of the sin of humans is the ludicrous idea that some people are born as better than others. The Bible reminds us that we are all created by the God of the Bible and we are have the same worth. In Romans 3:23 we are reminded that we all have sinned (that makes us all sinners!) and fall short of God’s glorious standard. And the only hope for every person who walks on this planet is that “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (9) Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We are told in Philippians 2 that our job is to love one another, work together with one mind and purpose. That we need to give up on our selfishness and self-centeredness and focus on loving one another and working with one mind and purpose. And as we look at our fellow travelers, we need to be humble…even treating others as though they were better than ourselves. The movie is a stark reminder of a time in our history that was a product of sin…against God and people. And the only way we can avoid that same heart and mind that was shaped by evil, is to be born again through the grace and mercy of this Jesus of the Bible. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Philippians 2:1-4 NLT Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? (2) Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. (3) Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. (4) Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
P.S. FUNNIES...
Philippians 2:1-4 NLT Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? (2) Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. (3) Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. (4) Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
P.S. FUNNIES...