Living Free!

Back during my college years, a friend of mine and I had a song routine we performed a number of times for various audiences. Scattered between many of the serious songs were jokes and other little humorous ditties. As a parody of the song “Born Free” we simply sang (as serious as any of our other songs) “Born free … my daddy’s a doctor.” Then we would go on to some other actual song.

Being born free! That is a concept of great pride for many who have been born in the USA. And cherishing the “rights” of citizenship and the “freedom” associated with being born free, there is the great desire and even the demand to be able to live free. However, to talk to a sampling of US citizens it does not take long to realize there are differing concepts of what freedom is or to what extent it can be held.

Some people focus on “rights” as entitlement or what they deserve and they are determined to have every one they believe to be theirs. However, “rights” would be better viewed in the sense of “PRIVILEGE.” Jesus came and made it possible for us to have the “right to become children of God.” ( John 1:12-13) We didn’t earn it and by no means deserve it, but should recognize what a “PRIVILEGE” it truly is to have it made possible in Christ. As people consider “freedom” -- freedom from some things, freedom to do others, and freedom to make individual choices -- perhaps that “freedom” would we better viewed from the standpoint of “RESPONSIBILITY.” We have the “RESPONSIBILITY” to make the right choices and not take our “freedom” for granted in a way that cheapens grace through viewing it as “license for immorality.” ( Jude 4 NIV) Moving our view from merely “rights” and “freedom” to “PRIVILEGE” and “RESPONSIBILITY” we can gain a healthier perspective regarding what it means to live free.

Paul encouraged…
“(1) There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life has SET YOU FREE IN CHRIST JESUS from the law of sin and death.” ( Romans 8:1-2 ESV)

We are greatly blessed in Christ. We have the opportunity for complete cleansing and forgiveness by the power of His blood. We have been provided with the greatest freedom we could desire; freedom from the fear of death and eternal separation from God. ( Hebrews 2:14-15) In our relationship with Christ the condemnation our sin has deserved has been adequately dealt with and we can rejoice to be numbered among the saved.

Let us recognize our greater citizenship is that which is associated with heaven ( Philippians 3:20) and our greatest freedom for life is therefore from above. May our life truly reflect the sense of “PRIVILEGE” and “RESPONSIBILITY” that goes with being God’s children.

Have a great day APPRECIATING THE TRUEST FREEDOM IN CHRIST!
Carl

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