“For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.”
Galatians 5:13
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17
“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Romans 8:1-2
“Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God.”
Romans 13:1
Independence is hard won through the battles and sacrifices of others. Many have gone to war to protect our country’s freedom. We can celebrate that freedom, but know that it comes with its own set of laws and guidelines. They are established over time by the lawmakers and government leaders to protect the rights of our citizens.
In our Christian walk, we have freedom in Christ through His gift of salvation. Christ sacrificed Himself so that we could live with Him forever. We are only asked to believe. With that freedom, we are given guidelines, a set of instructions that help us form boundaries to keep us in closer relationship with Him and those we love.
The Bible contains words of wisdom for how we are to live and act and what we should avoid as followers of Christ. This does not take away our freedom. It gives us healthy boundaries to keep us safe and grounded in His love.
Our government has the right to take away our freedom if we break its laws. We can spend time locked away to serve the sentence of our crimes. Thankfully, the punishment for our sins fell on Christ. Although we may suffer legal consequences, God’s grace remains.
As God’s children, believers in His family, He will not leave us or turn us away. Instead, we follow the Bible and the calling of the Holy Spirit as acts of service and love for the One who first loved us. We strive to stay in His loving guidelines as a way to honor Him and maintain a close connection. This is not to earn our salvation; it is given freely.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord,
Thank You for those who have gone into battle and sacrificed themselves for our freedom. Thank You for sending Jesus to give His life on the cross for our sins to set us free from the law of sin and of death. Thank You for the promise of heaven and eternity with You.
In Christ’s name, Amen.
Journal: Think of those who have sacrificed of themselves for your freedom. What does that freedom mean to you?
Photo by Charles-Adrien Fournier on Unsplash
Porch Chair Prayers 