Living In Freedom
/
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
He told me it was hard trying to do everything on his own strength. He felt like he was failing in following all the rules. The guilt and shame of his past choices weighed heavy on his heart. He was attempting to make up for his past and did not think he was doing enough. He had accepted Jesus as his Savior but was not living in the freedom of grace and forgiveness. His faith was becoming a heavy burden.
We believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive us for our sins. We even believe Jesus conquered death through His rising from the dead. Jesus saved us and is our Savior, but for many that’s where faith stops. We may say Jesus is our Lord and Master and His Spirit dwells in us, but we do not live in the freedom Jesus truly gives. To be the Lord of our lives means that we surrender daily every part of our life and our struggles to Jesus. We allow the Spirit to be our guide, our strength, and to give us wisdom and discernment in making decisions and choices. It is giving every aspect of our daily lives to Jesus and trusting Him. It is living in the freedom of trust.
When we live in this freedom, we have nothing to worry about or be anxious for because we have surrendered everything to Jesus. This is not being naïve or blind. It is simple childlike trust. It is believing what Jesus said. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus is the truth that sets us free from the worries and struggles of the world. Jesus does not take us out of them, but Jesus carries the load and walks with us through them. Jesus is our strength.
The sins of our past are forgiven. We confess and God forgives. We do not need to keep remembering them and bringing them up in prayer. Other people may remind us, but God will never bring them up again. They are forgiven and forgotten, and the debt was paid through Jesus’ death on the cross. We are free. Not free to keep sinning because we know it will be forgiven, but free from the burden of what we have done wrong in the past and free to live in the present. We are free to rely on the power and strength of Jesus’ Spirit, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is a free gift given to us when we receive Jesus as the Lord and Savior of our lives.
God calls us to His saving grace and chooses us. God knows our past sins and our future sins, and God still calls us. God loves us and this is a freedom to be who we were created to be. Live in the free gift of love. Nobody will love us more than God and accept us. Jesus comes to us and wants us to accept the free gift of grace and love.
We are free to enjoy the life God has given to us. Life is not perfect in this broken and fallen world, but there is certainly good in it. It is enjoying the gifts God gives to us. It is finding good in the bad. It is living free from the negativity of the world’s hold upon you. Release yourself from only focusing on the negative and the bad. Sure, it is there and most of the time you cannot change it. But good is there too. Look for it.
Free yourself from worry and anxiety. I know, easier said then done. The news is cause for worry. Worry and anxiety may have become natural to you, but it never helps the situation or your outlook or health. It usually makes life worse. Start by praying and giving each worry to God. “God, this is yours. I trust You. If there is something I need to do, reveal it to me.” Release it by looking up. Looking up is like looking into the presence of God. It slows you down to take some deep breaths and changes your focus. Turn off the media. Listen to the birds. Watch the sunset. It is not getting so lost in the things of this world that you do not see Jesus and the freedom He gives to you.
Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the song – “I’m Free”
“I am free from the guilt that I carried. From the dull empty life, I’m set free. For when I met Jesus, He made me complete. He forgot the foolish child I used to be.
I’m free from the fear of tomorrow. I’m free from the guilt of my past. Oh, I traded my shackles for a glorious song. I’m free, praise the Lord, free at last.”
Are you living in the freedom that Jesus gives? Free to enjoy the good of life and look for the good. Free to not carry the worry and anxiety this world creates. Free to give the load and burdens to Jesus to carry. Free to find hope and joy and peace and contentment even in this fallen and broken world. Live free.
