“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” //John 8:32 (NLT)
After this verse, Jesus talks back and forth with the people about who He is and who they are. A lot of the religious people—Pharisees and Sadducees—around the time of Jesus were ‘religious’ because they were descendents of Abraham; it was something they were born into, passed down generationally. They saw Abraham as their father and were stuck in traditions and ‘religion’.
But here, Jesus was redefining ‘religion’. Jesus was saying that anyone could follow him, all they must do is believe. God is their father, not Abraham, and it’s believing in Him and the one whom He sent (Jesus) that makes someone a child of God. It was all about relationship and not religion or traditions. I think it’s funny (and sad) how many traditions we hold onto, thinking that it is these things that bring us hope and freedom—we feel that they bring us balance and security. But balance, security and freedom are only found in Jesus. Its His freedom that lets us dwell in His presence. Its a freedom to live unashamedly and unshackled through the power of Christ that is in us. It is freedom that gives hope and security in Jesus. Its this truth sets us free from our past–all those things that cling to us and hold us back–free from tradition, free from labels and hurts, from guilt and shame, and from sin. It frees us to be who we are created to be in strength and confidence…Free to bravely be you.
The truth of His gospel of grace is freeing, but it also comes with the responsibility of action. Once we know the truth, we have to do something with it.
Jesus says, “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself.” //Galations 5:13-14 (The Message)
The truth about our heart and our purpose can only be found in Jesus. The Truth about who we are only comes from Jesus. The more we envelope our life in His ways and His word; the more truth will be revealed to our heart and the more we can walk freely in our identity. It’s not a buckling or limiting truth, but a truth that breaks the chains of sin and doubt and tradition from around our heart and mind and causes us to live big and to love big.
“I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!” //2 Cor 6:11-13 (The Message)
I am just soaking in these scriptures and allowing Jesus to be open up my heart and life today. I want to break free from the restraints that I feel are keeping me back from being all I am meant to be in Christ.
In three days, I am off to training camp. I have no idea what to expect, but I dont want to limit myself with a bunch of expectations. These are the only things that I am praying for and expecting:
I pray that training camp will be a time of freedom. I pray that the truth of who God is and who we are will break off all the chains that hinder us from being all that we are created to be. I pray for freedom in worship, for freedom in hearing from the Lord. I pray for freedom in relationships, that we would just be able to love each other like Christ loves us and that the strongest bonds of community and friendship will be built. I pray that this will be a commissioning time, sending us out into the world to bring this freeing truth—the Gospel—to the desperate nations.
I was created to live a large life, so now, I commit to opening my life to whatever the Lord has planned over training camp. I commit to living in freedom and breaking the chains off of others.
I AM SO EXCITED TO BE MEETING MY SQUAD IN JUST A FEW DAYS!!
MY HEART CAN BARELY CONTAIN THIS JOY
But please keep us in your prayers during this time. Pray for strong relationships to be built. Also pray for continued funds as many of us still have a way to go in order to meet our deadline for launch.
I still need $3500 in order to get on a plane in July and fly with my team to Albania (The deadline is June 17th). Please prayerfully consider donating to my world Race Fund and partnering with me in bringing this freeing gospel to the nations.
Be Blessed!!
In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. //Ephesians 3:2
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. //John 8:36
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He Has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation–if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. //Colossians 1:21-23
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. //Isaiah 61:1
