We Were Born to Be Free
Have you ever heard the metaphor of the prisoner whose cell door is unlocked but he stays inside continuing to live in bondage? That's how we live when we accept Jesus as our Savior and continue to live weighed down by the chains of sin.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Christ set us free when He died on the cross. He defeated death once and for all and buried the slavery of sin with it.What chains are you still wearing while you're trying to run in freedom?SHAKE THEM OFF, SIS!Because of Jesus, we get to run freely without fear of the future or the weight of the world on our shoulders.His yoke is easy and His burden is light and that is all available to us THROUGH Him. I, for one, am immensely grateful for the gift, for that good, good grace.Money has not set us free.Friendships have not set us free.Vacation has not set us free.Promotions have not set us free.CHRIST has set us free.I really want to walk in that freedom every day. I want to walk in His good grace and stop feeling shame for things I've said or done. I want to run like a child on a playground without worries of the past or the future.The only way I know how to do that is to stay in His word and continuously pray. That is survival, friends. That is the key to freedom.We have been given a literal guideline to living freely. And we have an armor we can put on daily to protect us from an enemy trying to pin us down all over again.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:14-17 (NIV)
Next time you feel like you're falling back into a sinful habit or living in guilt or shame, armor up and go to war against the enemy's tactics. You are brave. You are strong. You are free.When we live in freedom, we attract others craving that same feeling -- and that's when we get to tell them about the One who paid it all.You were born to be free, my friend. You were born to be loved.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)
If freedom is found where the Spirit of the Lord is, let's stay as close to Him as possible. When we are in His presence, we are free, so free.