Awareness --> Action
Slavery is a bigger issue than I can wrap my heart or head around, which causes me to grieve but also to pray. Slavery is indeed gruesome, but my God is greater. So when I speak of awareness, I want to forecast that in two words: Slavery and Savior.
Having said that, the first step is worship which leads to work. One of the more than 10,000 reasons we have to worship Christ is our comfort in knowing that the Savior finished the work required for salvation. The challenge, however, is in the works we do as a result of that salvation.
Let me try to explain just a little: Christ was faithful to God in finishing the work necessary to provide salvation for those who trust in the Cross and Resurrection. Nonetheless, people around the world and across the street do not believe Christ conquered sin and death and others have not heard.
So, the work required for salvation was finished by Christ, but the works as a result of salvation are being fulfilled by Christ through us. To put it another way, the action is already completed, but what we are entrusted with is the reaction to that action and the communication of Christ to culture.
The A-21 Campaign communicated via twitter that, Before we can end slavery, every person in our nation must see the reality that slavery still exists. The first step to addressing a problem is to admit that there is a problem. Clearly, 27 million slaves and their stories is a problem.
The A-21 Campaign also tweeted that, Only 1% of victims are ever rescued. That leaves 99% who are depending on us. Take action now! http://a21.cta.gs/003 . Once we are aware of the problem, we are to act according to God's power because freedom is a priority.
We all need to be aware of the problem, but we possess different passions which means how we act differs, but the demand is the same as we fight for freedom. Sadly, millions of stories are defined by slavery, but God writes the story and wants to use us to change the stories of captives.
Ultimately, the reason we can be used by God to change stories is that we are allowed access to the presence and power of God through Christ. Christ is the One who sets the captives free, but He uses us to point to His power. This is why we are confident in our identity but humble in our activity.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring Good News to the poor;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord that He may glorified.
(Isaiah 61:1-3)
There are 7 "To's" that Christ alone accomplished in these 3 verses through His Crucifixion and Resurrection. But the response to that work needs to be communicated to cultures and God is accomplishing that through Christ in us by His Spirit according to His power.
I say all that to say this before I leave you with a heart-breaking but hope-filled story: God's people fight for freedom from physical (primarily sexual) and spiritual slavery because of His power to save slaves of sin. I know He saved me slavery of sin and is saving me from sin for sanctification.
This earthly life is a struggle but eternal life is free from slavery, free from sin, and free from struggles. To put into perspective as Tenth Avenue North likes to put it, "Hallelujah! We are free to struggle, but we're not struggling to be free" ("The Struggle").
Awareness --> Action but both --> Adoring the Almighty.
And here's the really cool part: we will adore the Almighty for eternity, worshiping Him because He is Worthy based on Who He is, which is why He does what He does. Reflecting on Revelation 5 creates the reason to rejoice and worship God who is both Worthy and Holy.
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