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(Presented by Lisa Bishop)
Are you living free?
The other day I was sitting in my kitchen with some friends having a conversation about our teen-aged years and some of the stupid things we did. I didn’t become a follower of Jesus until I was in my 20’s so I had plenty of time to live my version of “freedom” and make choices that I would later look back on with regret. And not that you must be young to be foolish. There are plenty of unwise decisions we can make, and temptations we can fall into, even as adult followers of Jesus.
We live in a world that says, “Follow your impulses.” “Do what feels good in the moment.” “Act on what is right for you.” And we call this freedom. The dictionary defines freedom as, “Being able or allowed to do, say, think, whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited.” But true freedom is not the liberty to do as you please. True freedom requires discipline.
To say that there is freedom in discipline can almost sound like an oxymoron. But in his letter to the Church in Rome the Apostle Paul alludes to the impact of the lack of discipline that leads to false freedom and ultimately leads to sin.
“As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn’t have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you’re proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end” (Romans 6:20-21, MSG).
The world says, “Do what you want, when you want,” and calls it freedom. Jesus looks at satisfying the flesh as sin and calls it bondage.
In Galatians 5:1 Paul emphatically says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” You are a slave to whatever you let master you and influence your actions, words, and behavior. When it comes to true liberation, true freedom, it will require you to omit things in your life that do not reflect your salvation. Or said in another way, discipline yourself to get rid of unprincipled choices that gratify the flesh and do not reflect the holiness of God.
Where in your life is lack of discipline crippling your freedom in Christ? What thoughts or actions are ruling you rather than being guided by God and put under the authority of Jesus? It is for freedom that Christ has set you free! Confess to God and thank him that his Holy Spirit not only guides you but empowers you to live a life of true liberty through the discipline of freedom.