Lately God has been revealing to me more about the freedom we have in Christ. As I have been processing through some decisions (some real and others hypothetical), I have wondered whether or not God would still be pleased with me if I made the "wrong" decision. In my mind, I knew that God loves me no matter what I do, but I honestly felt like He would be disappointed if I didn't choose the best thing. It wasn't a choice of whether to sin or not, but rather a choice of whether to choose a good thing I wanted to do or a better thing I believed I should do. I felt like I needed to sacrifice my desires in order to please God.
I wrestled through the options and sought advice from trusted friends and family members. I gradually reached the point where I felt like I could choose whatever I wanted to. God loves me no matter what I do! I understand that in a new and deeper way now than I did before. There is such freedom in unconditional love. I even have permission to "fail" because God's love never fails.
In that place of freedom, however, I realized that all I want to do is choose Jesus. I want to choose what God has planned for me. I don't want to go my own way. All I want is Jesus. The freedom I have in Christ is the freedom to choose Christ. I am free from the lies and bondage of sin and death. I am free to view each moment and choice in life as an opportunity rather than an obligation. That is the true freedom I have in Christ.
Sometimes I feel like I'm in bondage to God, forced to live for His glory in a feeble attempt to pay off the debt of salvation. When I think about it that way, I believe I have to steal small tidbits of forbidden pleasure to satisfy my passions and lust. But when I stop at a crossroad in life and truly allow myself to choose between worldly pleasure and Jesus, I will always choose Jesus. Nothing in this world can satisfy. I am overflowing with gratitude because God has graciously given us salvation through Jesus Christ that we could never earn or pay back. The best part of this salvation is that it opens the door to relationship with God that would never have been possible otherwise. The freedom I have in Christ means I have the freedom to choose the better part - I can choose Jesus!
I wrestled through the options and sought advice from trusted friends and family members. I gradually reached the point where I felt like I could choose whatever I wanted to. God loves me no matter what I do! I understand that in a new and deeper way now than I did before. There is such freedom in unconditional love. I even have permission to "fail" because God's love never fails.
In that place of freedom, however, I realized that all I want to do is choose Jesus. I want to choose what God has planned for me. I don't want to go my own way. All I want is Jesus. The freedom I have in Christ is the freedom to choose Christ. I am free from the lies and bondage of sin and death. I am free to view each moment and choice in life as an opportunity rather than an obligation. That is the true freedom I have in Christ.
Sometimes I feel like I'm in bondage to God, forced to live for His glory in a feeble attempt to pay off the debt of salvation. When I think about it that way, I believe I have to steal small tidbits of forbidden pleasure to satisfy my passions and lust. But when I stop at a crossroad in life and truly allow myself to choose between worldly pleasure and Jesus, I will always choose Jesus. Nothing in this world can satisfy. I am overflowing with gratitude because God has graciously given us salvation through Jesus Christ that we could never earn or pay back. The best part of this salvation is that it opens the door to relationship with God that would never have been possible otherwise. The freedom I have in Christ means I have the freedom to choose the better part - I can choose Jesus!
