REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE
TEMPERANCE
‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keepall My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!» (Deuteronomy 5:29)
Rebel Without a Cause is the title of an American movie, directed by Nicholas Ray in the fifties. Tie main character, Jim Stark (James Dean), portrays a teenager who had an intense yearning for freedom. He rejects the rules established by society, this leads him to various fights and disputes. The character stands out due to his desire for freedom expressed through his defiance of the laws. Do the laws of society go against freedom? What does it mean to feel free?
To Jim Stark, freedom entailed being free of all restrains; to others, freedom means following the voice of their heart; to the American writer Eric Hoffer, awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Roland Regan, feeling free has to do with escaping «even if it be but from the frying pan to the fire.»
Obviously, freedom is related to the rejection of domination, control and having the power of choice. But in the human zeal to find freedom, it is common for many to become slaves of their own desires, hunger, immorality and lust. Complacency and lack of restraint, advertised by the famous pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Spock since the 1940s, did not promote independence and freedom but instead encouraged juvenile delinquency in the following decades. It also generated in a million of young people great feelings of insecurity and the inability to find themselves.
Contrarily, the rules that God provided originate from infinite wisdom and have the purpose of making His children happy. Today’s Bible verse proclaims God’s intentions when He prescribed His rules and commandments. He says, «Oh, that they always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!» Because Jesus declared: «I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly» (John 10:10).
Today, we invite you to meditate on God’s intention in laying out His laws and commandments in relation to our overall health. Like a loving father, He longs for His children’s well-being and He wishes to see them develop to their full potential. We can exercise our power of choice and choose the best which is to know and follow His instructions. Then we can say, «And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts» (Ps. 119:45).
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Taken from: Daily Devotions for Adults 2020
“A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine”
From: Julian Melgoza-Laura Fidanza
Colaboradores: Yidith C & Alejandra Zavala