So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 NLT
When we give our lives to Christ, he leads us into freedom from the bondages that once kept us in chains. You know what kept you from living free – maybe addictions, toxic relationships, bad attitudes, perfectionism … we all have our stories of the chains Jesus broke.
There are two areas where Christ brings freedom to all of us, because these are the common human core issues:
Freedom from shame: We no longer are defined by our past mistakes. Jesus forgave and paid for our sins and mistakes on the cross. Those sources of shame are gone through the undeserved grace and new future He gives.
Freedom from fear: God’s perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). We no longer need to be fearful and anxious about comparison with others, the opinions of others, or anxiety about the future. We are loved, secure, and safe in our new freedom.
We also get freedom FOR service. Since we no longer must work for God’s acceptance and approval, we are free to love others unconditionally, to serve others without reservation, and give ourselves generously.
The core truth of the good news is that God’s grace liberates us. It’s not that He simply forgives us. It’s better than that! He DOES forgive us, but He also sets us free. He wants us to remain free by abiding in Him. However, it is easy to walk right back into old bondages and habits from which we have been freed. Instead of relying on God’s grace, abiding in and living with Him, and getting our identity from Him, we can return to tying our worth to our performance, we can let old attitudes direct our thoughts and behaviors. We can get tangled up in former patterns if we don’t intentionally protect what Jesus has given us. Remaining free requires daily choosing to renew your mind with God's truth.
Standing firm is not a one-time choice or a passive way of life. It is an active, daily choice to find your identity in God’s grace and love. You remind yourself that His love for you is unconditional. He will never love you less or more than He does right now. Your spirit can freely respond with obedience and deep, peaceful freedom. You were created for this.
- What will it look like for you to stand firm in your freedom today? What intentional choices do you need to make today to keep the flame of freedom burning high?