Monday, July 1, 2024
The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one. Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on the Lord. Then they will be filled with dread, for God is with those who arerighteous. You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord is his refuge. Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. Psalm 14 CSB
What does true freedom look like and how can we receive it and live in it?
What does freedom look like to you? Being able to make your own choices? Getting out of debt? Getting out of a bad marriage or relationship? Maybe it is making enough money money to be able to retire? Often the very idea we have of what freedom is leads to bondage instead of freedom. In making our own choices we can make choices that lead us into the bondage of sin, leading to so many hard consequences we have to live with. We may be able to do what we want to, but the consequences of sin are a prison of our own making, and that is not freedom.
True freedom for Christians is not just the freedom Christ gave us when he died for us, but the freedom we have when we completely surrender to him in obedience. Giving up our own selfish desires and trusting him completely is true freedom. We can let go of the ideals we hang onto and surrender to his plan, knowing that he will always do what is the very best for us. We can receive this by surrender and live in it by obeying.
Obedience is not just hearing. Obedience is hearing and doing. Action is required. If you are in a season of waiting, it may feel like a prison, but it is not a prison. We have freedom in Christ so that we can be free and live free in any circumstance. Obedience in difficult circumstances may look like serving, focusing on others, and how God can use you during this time. When we know him and trust him, surrendered in obedience to him, we can have peace and true freedom in any circumstance.
What does true freedom look like? Surrender. Surrendering our desires, ways we think things should turn out or look like, trusting him, and walking obedient in that surrender.
