Freedom
Tuesday July 22, 2014
Human beings long for freedom. Wars are fought for it. Countries build statements around freedom in their constitutions. As Canadians we celebrate living in a country where we have freedom. Freedom is also a top priority on God's agenda. What is this freedom that humans talk about and want? How can we truly live in freedom?
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV)
God invites us to live in freedom. Freedom for us is so very important to God that he was willing to give the life of His Son so that we could experience life and peace. Some people may feel that following Jesus limits their freedom to do this or that. The limits that God sets for us are similar to that of the function of guard rails. The purpose is to keep us from falling into those things that would harm us. The classic picture is that of a little child who wants to touch the hot burner on a stove. The parent tells the child not to do it in order to protect the child from pain and wounds. The child, like us in our own dilemma, is still free to stick their little fingers on the hot element resulting in the horrible sizzling sound of skin burning and terrible pain that lingers for a time. The truly free action in this analogy is for us to step away from the stove (or the sin) and choose to walk safely on the path that God has chosen for us.
You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. (Psalm 119:1-6 MSG)
Following God's perfect law is pleasing. It's pleasing because doing life as God determined is living life as our creator planned. When we choose our own way, rather than God’s way, we find that goodness and mercy do not follow us as the Psalmist said it surely would.
Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:13-14)
Is freedom to live life to the full worth having? Today, may we come to believe that it truly is.
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