How do we know we are free?
In the last devotional, I shared about the fact that sometimes we may think we are free while we are still in bondage. Despite a long history of bondage, Jesus’ disciples thought they were never slaves to anyone!
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
What is the evidence of our freedom in Christ?
Free from Compulsion
Definition of Compulsion (according to Webster’s dictionary): to force (someone) to do something; to make (something) happen : to force (something)
Compulsion causes people to be driven and not be led by the Holy Spirit. Compulsion can take on many faces. If you are a competitive person, you will naturally be compulsive and will have to choose to be restrained by Holy Spirit.
Some are still trying to impress others by performance. When performance is the motivation behind doing something, it will drive individuals to do more than they should. The desire to impress will drive people to be compulsive. Some are compulsive because they are continually fixing another mistake. They are compelled to explain themselves more than necessary. They are busy fixing something else because they are insecure about getting into trouble again.
Paul wrote:
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12
Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial for us. When we begin to walk with God and experience His freedom, the Lord frees us from compulsive behavior. If we truly want to experience freedom, we have to leave our competitiveness at the altar and let God rule in our relationships. Godly people refrain from being compulsive in life! They know their boundaries of how much is too much and they stay the course.
Free from unhealthy relationships
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17
The more free we are, the better we become in choosing our friendships. They are not picked based on our needs. We are not looking for people to fill the holes in our hearts. We don’t choose people based on their level of loyalty and/or agreement to us. We are not trying to create a clique.
As free people, we are willing to hear the hard words from our friends because we have a desire to grow and not remain stagnant. We come to be a blessing and receive genuine friendship that is based on truth, not based on flattery, gossip, control, or manipulation. The type of friends we choose, says much about our level of security and freedom in Christ!
Free to obey
Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? Galatians 3:1
When we have a desire to obey, we don’t wrestle with truth like we used to. We don’t argue with people. One of the things that Jesus does in our lives is that he comes to breakdown strongholds and barriers which have held us back from receiving truth. We are humble to accept truth regardless of the source, and we are quick to obey because we are empowered to do what is right without blaming others or excusing our flaws.
Free to love
Freedom in Christ comes with letting go of our fears and loving people deeply. People can claim they are free , but when you see how they treat their adversaries, you will know how free they are from fear and pride!
O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 2 Corinthians 6:11-12
Paul was falsely accused by some in the Corinthian church, but those accusations did not deter him from continually loving the church. He kept his heart open and vulnerable towards those people despite of how they treated him.
Freedom in Christ allows us to keep our hearts open towards others regardless on how they treat us. We are able to love and be kind to others. That is true freedom that displays the genuine fruit of the spirit in the heat of the battle!
Lord, we don’t want to just talk about freedom but we want to live in freedom! Give us the courage and strength to live in complete freedom in every area of our lives! In Jesus’s mighty name! Amen!
That pull and temptation of original sin affects Us all, but we do have choice to be enticed or to resist. Jesus has made Us free, but I believe When We take our eyes off Christ, is when We get pulled back. Romans 8:1 declares the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made Us free form the law of sin and death. What Jesus did was far greater than what Adam did in the garden! It is not a boxing match, the victory is already won!! Our faith declares We are free based on what Jesus did. Our personal relationship gives Us balance, so We don’t have to go overboard in an area. Great writeup Karline!
Praise God! Amen Brother Tim! We have everything we need for life and Godliness but we have to choose it everyday. Thank you & God bless!