Lent 2021: A Story to Live BySample

Freedom for...

Reflection:

‘These people were slaves,’ said Gobinda, from Tearfund’s partner. I was incredulous. This was back in 2011, as I was visiting communities in central Nepal. We were there to see the impact of Tearfund’s work transforming communities through local churches.

I thought Gobinda had misinterpreted. So I asked again. ‘Yes, slaves.’ What I could see was a bustling community with lush fields of freshly-grown produce. In 2008, the government of Nepal freed 20,000 people from slavery.

It’s estimated that there are more than 40 million people worldwide living in slavery today.

Seeing the community building a new life for themselves as free people was wonderful to witness. It is something we’re passionate about at Tearfund – that people are not just freed from poverty and exploitation, but freed for something. Free to live life to the full as God intended.

God is the great liberator. Freeing us from sin, shame, our pasts, even death. We are free. The question is, what will we do with that freedom?

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for giving us freedom. Thank you for liberating us into abundant lives. We think of those who, for whatever reason, are not free. Help us to bring about a world where no one is kept in slavery. Help us root out and end this injustice. Amen.

Author: Peter Shaw

Peter is the Editor of Tearfund’s magazine Tear Times and The Prayer Diary.