Liberty

July 7th – 1 Peter 2:16

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1 Peter 2:16

Peter warns us against misusing the freedom given to us by God to justify sinful behavior. For true freedom in Christ comes with the responsibility to live righteously. When we claim our liberty in Christ, it’s not a license to sin or to excuse actions that go against God’s commands. To do so means we don’t understand what it means to be a free servant of God. Instead of masking evil with the guise of freedom, we are called to live as slaves of God, demonstrating His righteousness and love through our actions. Similarly, submission to human authorities must be with our higher allegiance to God’s moral law. Just because a law permits or even mandates certain actions doesn’t mean they align with God’s will. True freedom involves discerning and obeying God’s principles above all, even when it contradicts societal or governmental demands. By living out our freedom in service to God, we reflect His character and uphold His standards, ensuring our choices honor Him rather than exploit His grace.

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July 16th – Ephesians 2:18

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Ephesians 2:18

As fallen beings, we are all born into bondage. Our sin nature makes us spiritually dead in our transgressions, slaves to unrighteousness, and separated from God. This causes us to live in darkness and shame, unable to behold His Shekinah glory. But the moment we receive Jesus as our Savior, the darkness is lifted, our shackles broken, and are hearts reborn. Through His precious shed blood, Jesus provides the path to freedom for all. Freedom from sin, death, and most wonderful of all, separation from our Heavenly Father. Now we are free not only to fellowship with the Lord, but to approach God’s throne of grace boldly and with confidence to receive His mercy and grace. (Heb. 4:16) And through this grace, together we are made alive with Christ, raised up, and seated with Him in heavenly places. (Eph. 2:5-6)

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July 12th – Psalm 119:45

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Psalm 119:45

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Ours is a government of liberty, by, through, and under the law. No man is above it, and no man is below it.” We all want freedom. We want be able to live our lives in our own manner by our own choosing. Yet the irony is that to be free, we need laws to our guarantee that freedom. And the same goes for the Law of God. Far from just being a set of rules designed to take away our fun or liberties, God’s Law sets us free. Free to be who God created us to be. Free to live our best lives, no longer in bondage to sin. And free to live in willing obedience to God. Obedience not to attain salvation by works, but to serve and please our loving Father, who gave us His Law because He knows and wants what is best for us. And walking in obedience frees us from feelings of fear and dread, and let’s us live joyfully in God’s wide open space of grace, peace, and love.

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July 9th – James 2:12

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James 2:12

As followers of Jesus, we receive the gift of liberty. Liberty from the Law, sin, and death. We are new creations in Christ, freed from the bondage of living in darkness and condemnation. But that doesn’t mean we are free to speak and act like the rest of the world. Just because we are saved, doesn’t give us cart blanche to walk by the flesh or disobey God. For our freedom was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ. And as such, He expects us to be His ambassadors to a darkened world, reflections of His love and grace. That includes making sure our speech and actions line up with the Word of God. For saved or unsaved, we will all stand before Him and give an account of our lives. Every word we speak and every deed we perform will be laid bare before our Creator. (Matt. 12:36, Rom. 14:12) And the goal of every Christian should be to stand before our Maker and hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:23)

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July 2nd – 2 Corinthians 3:17

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2 Corinthians 3:17

This weekend as we celebrate the Fourth of July and our hard fought freedoms, I can’t help but think of Patrick Henry who so famously said, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” The Greek word for liberty is “Eleftherios”, meaning personal freedom from servitude, or oppression. And that just what Jesus came to do, to set us free spiritually. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became the perfect fulfillment of the Law. And once we receive Him as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell every believer. And through the power of the Spirit we are, “released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit” (Rom.7:6) And this liberty empowers us to deny the flesh and our own selfish desires for the purpose of glorifying God!

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