Freedom

“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

Freedom is a powerful word.  Nations fight for it. People die for it. Today we celebrate the Fourth of July as a nation. Our founding fathers lost lands and lives and family for this one concept. Freedom.

Freedom’s fight
But our freedom is under attack. There is a spiritual war for our hearts that has physical consequences. Our souls are enslaved by lust, greed, license, legalism, laziness, arrogance, spitefulness. Like cancer, these insidious practices pervert what is good and true and cause us to die from the inside out.  We must act against these tendencies or our freedom will be lost.

Freedom’s choice
Freedom is the ability to chose what is right, to do what is good for everyone. Freedom is the ability to act selflessly and take interest in our neighbor’s needs rather than being chained to our own vanities. Yesterday, as I stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Grand Canyon I realized how awesome freedom is. I can come to such an incredible place because Theodore Roosevelt chose to protect the freedom of all to access the Grand Canyon. His choice allowed of us the freedom to enjoy this incredible national park.

Freedom’s price
In the same way, it is for freedom that Christ died for us.  Our selfishness caused a rift with God that only Christ could surmount. Selfishness has a price tag and it is death.  So Jesus allowed Himself to be tortured and murdered to pay that price. So that we may be free to choose Him. 

Freedom’s actions
And now it is our call to act. To fight for the freedom God has given us. To fight against our own selfish desire and free others from their bondage to sin.

In my life I need to engage in my freedom by choosing what is selfless. At the same time helping others to be free. Sharing the story of Christ’s gift in all of my choices to those I meet.  I must also live that out internally by replacing lust with love, arrogance with humility, laziness with diligence, spite with grace, license and legalism with redemption.