July 5th: The "freedom" principle...

July 4th is an awesome holiday (maybe awesome is overused, but it fits here). As you are well aware, the freedoms we have in our country came at great cost by millions of young men and women throughout the years. It serves to remind us as we celebrate; freedom is not the absence of sacrifice and duty. Freedom is a result of courage, strength, honor and a willingness to live by a law/principle that is larger than life – the principle of embracing a set of standards that transcend personal preference and places the needs of others ahead of our own as individuals.

The same can be said of the freedom we have in Jesus Christ. Like our national freedom, freedom in Christ is not simply the absence of rules, guidelines and principles that define for us how God would have us live. There are two Bible references that bring our freedom and responsibility together…

John 8:31-32…
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Hebrews 12:1-2…
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Blending these two parts of the Bible together let me ask you to think about a few things:

1. What is the “catch/condition” that Jesus shares in his offer for freedom? How does the truth set us free? How could this freedom be interrupted?

2. If we’re in this "race" called life (living for God) what can get in the way of that life or even disqualify us from the “assignment” we have been given? How does this relate to freedom?

3. Which is really more confining; God’s rules for life or the absence of them? Why?

4. When we do mess up and get off-track (and we all do) what does Hebrews 12 tell us to do?

For years I thought that Christianity was nothing more than an attempt to get me to simply behave and follow the rules. What I have learned (the hard way) is that God’s principles for life are best followed when we fall in love with Jesus first (because of who he is and what he did (see June 29th – he took our place)).

So, I no longer follow God’s guidelines, principles for life, because I “have” to, I do so because I “get” to and therein one finds true freedom.


Hey, let’s enjoy our freedom and continue to live for Jesus. There is a world out there that needs what we have. Let’s offer it to them with kindness and compassion as we fix our eyes on HIM…


Compassion Rules! Live your Life...