Philadelphia Freedom

Elton John wrote a song that became a theme song for The Philadelphia Freedom Professional Team Tennis by the same title.

Some of the lyrics are:

If you choose to you can live your life alone

Some people choose the city

Some others choose the good old family home

I like living easy without family ties

Till the whippoorwill of freedom zapped me

Right between the eyes

For many, living this life alone, living without family ties seems antithetical...

For others, it brings a sense of peace as all they have known is chaos and confusion and distance in their families...

Neither of which is what the author of Hebrews was challenging his readers to.

He challenged his readers towards: Hebrews 13:1–6; Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

What does the writer address?

• Brotherly Love

• Hospitality

• Remembering the prisoner

• remembering those who are mistreated

• Honoring marriage and keeping it pure

• Not loving money

So,

Brotherly love - is hospitable, and besides, you never know who you might be entertaining

Brotherly love is empathetic - it doesn’t approach life or ministry with a Messiah Complex that says I am going to help “those” people. It embraces the humility necessary to see beyond someones circumstance to their identity as someone created in the image of God.

Brotherly Love is covenantal. It honors relationships that God intended to be the image of His relationship through Christ with His Church - A Spotless Bride and the Eager Groom, celebrating intimately the bond created through the Grooms Selfless Love.

Brotherly Love embraces gratitude, not greed. It cherishes what it already has, in anticipation of whats to come without being consumed by the things not seen or held.

How do we practice physical distancing and brotherly love at the same time?

• Who do you know that might need a phone call or what neighbor might need a conversation across the clothesline?

• Who might need some groceries/prescriptions picked up?

• Who might need a letter to know they are not alone or a word of comfort to know they are not struggling alone?

• Who can you encourage to persevere in the difficulties of marriage or to abstain from any form of sexual immorality ?

• What possessions are replacing your time with family, friends - or Jesus?

• What do you need to lay aside today in order to be a Living Breathing Billboard for Jesus?

You tell me! How will YOU do that today?

Ultimately, Brotherly Love is found in the One who will not leave us, forsake us, or leave us to our own devices. Freedom is found when the Helper walks beside us, empowering us and overcoming our “Fear of Man”. We are Image bearers. Brotherly love is living in such an way that people see the Image of God in us, so that the Image of God in them will be revealed. Because, as the author of Hebrews points out, Jesus is sufficient - apart from Him, everything else pales in comparison.

Sorry Elton, true Philadelphia Freedom is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.