The other night, as I’m lying in bed, my mind starts to wander. I start to think about life on the world race. (This actually happens multiple times a day and for hours especially when I should be sleeping.) I think of everything I will miss and of everything that I take for granted. You know. Like the AC blasting, my super comfy bed, a nice clean toilet, and lovely alone time. (I will probably have very little, if any, alone time on the race.) Then, I start to think of how freeing it will be to rid myself of my selfish desires and material wants. Ahhh to be a selfless minimalist!
Speaking of free … I then start to think of how free I will feel when I am actually living life on the race. When I no longer have to convince people that I am not crazy because I want to serve others abroad for 11 months. When I will no longer have to explain that in this season of my life I want to be a missionary. When I am not worried about the criticism I will receive when I am asked what I want to do with my life (because I’m not getting any younger) and I don’t respond with a career path making tons of money. To be free from the opinions of others … ahhhh it’s going to be amazing!
As I’m thinking of this freedom, I am reminded of a message I heard many Sundays ago. I am reminded that I am free RIGHT NOW from whatever sin is keeping me in bondage. Right now, I am free from the sin of creating an idol of people’s opinions of me and my life choices. The chains have already been unlocked, and it’s up to me to get up and walk away from the bondage. Thinking back to when I heard the message, I am sure when I thought of what I needed freeing from it was something different. I am also sure that months from now I will realize I am free from some other sin that I have been hanging on to. Whether I realize it now or later, whatever it is, I am already set free from it!
I don’t need some huge, life altering event (the world race) to happen before I start to own that freedom. Actually, the huge, life altering event already happened. God sent his only Son to die for my sins! Jesus died and rose again so that I can be free from sin! In addition, God sent a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to be with me always.
The same for you. Whether you need freeing from making an idol of the opinions of others or from some other sin, know and BELIEVE that Jesus has already set you free. Whether you feel you don’t deserve your freedom or you think being free will be too uncomfortable, you don’t have to keep hanging on to it or keep going back into the captivity of that sin. You are free from it! You don’t have to sin anymore! Amazing, right? Own your freedom, and know that who the Son sets free is free indeed.
John 8: 31-36 NKJV
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 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.”
Galatians 4:31 & 5:1 AMP
So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural]. It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery [which you once removed].
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Thanks for reading! Be sure to subscribe for updates above. This week, I will share details of my route change!
