I have been thinking about a greater freedom today.
Redemption.
It wasn’t free either.
Jesus paid the highest price.
The Father sacrificed His son.
Some might argue that He knew the outcome, that Jesus would live and rise from the tomb in three days. Do you think that made it easier? When your child has to go through something, a hard thing, and you know the outcome, does it make it easier watching them go through it? Unable to save them? Imagine His agony because He is God and could save Him, but He couldn't.
Most days I take it for granted. Just go on about my daily life without ever giving it a thought. Not today. Today it was a palatable, there was a price paid for my freedom. Am I living free? Are you?
What is freedom? Strong's Concordance defines liberty as freedom and Dictionary.com says that freedom is not being imprisoned or enslaved.
Am I living free when I battle fears, over and over again, that He paid for? When I struggle with character flaws, that He died to free me from? Freedom is not a feeling, it was gift. Do not be deceived, you can be free and still struggle. It goes from our heads to our hearts, which then translate our actions, but it's a done deal as far as He's concerned.
The payment, the sacrifice a non-refundable or exchangeable gift. I don't have to do a thing, He chose to set me free. I can choose to live free or live a slave to the wounds of the past, the fear of the future or the issue of the day. What does that say about me? What does that say about Him? That I am too far gone for the price He paid? That His sacrifice wasn't enough?
Stop for a moment and think about these things. Ask Him if you are living the abundant life He paid for? If you bought a loaf of bread and got home and found there was only half a loaf, you would demand a full loaf, your money back or only pay for the amount you got. You need to be that bold about your freedom.
We will participate in our various 4th of July celebrations today including BBQ's, fireworks and pool parties, but do we dare ask Him these hard questions? Do we want to hear the answers?
If someone paid a high price for me, I would want to show all due respect for the sacrifice. I want to utilize what they paid to give me the best that life has to offer this side of heaven. We know we have an inheritance in heaven, but what about now? There is an inheritance available to us now, if we choose. There is nothing else He has to do to make it available, it is a choice on our part.
It is a responsibility.
To believe.
To trust.
To live.
To use.
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 5:1A loss of freedom in this verse is referred to as a yoke of slavery, which Jesus already set us free from. I do not want to go back, but move forward.
Today as our whole country is celebrating freedom, let us commit to steward the freedom given to us. Years ago I read a definition of stewardship that I have never forgotten:
Stewardship is faithfully applying God's principles to everything with which you have been entrusted. - Dwight Nichols
After hearing about the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix, two Moravian missionaries sold themselves into slavery, so they could preach the gospel to African slaves on the islands. As their ship pulled away from the dock, they were heard shouting, "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering." Today that is the cry of my heart and that is what I will proclaim as I recount the cost of my freedom.
Let's stop and faithfully apply His principles, accept our responsibility for our freedom and refuse to forfeit because it wasn't free and I could never repay even on my best day.
Let's stop and faithfully apply His principles, accept our responsibility for our freedom and refuse to forfeit because it wasn't free and I could never repay even on my best day.
"May the Lamb that was slain
receive the reward of His suffering."
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