Have you thought much about freedom?

Are you free? If you answered “yes,” what did you mean? Was it something like, “I get to do what I want to do. I choose what I want and I do it?”

You may be free from external forces (nobody’s coercing you to do anything you don’t want), but are you free from internal forces?

What I mean is, are you free from your own lustful desires, your unholy ambitions, your condemnation on the self, your twisted sense of worth, guilt about your past, etc?

This is what I realized about freedom: Freedom isn’t doing whatever I want (self-centered). Freedom is doing whatever God wants (God-centered). But so often we can’t do what God wants. We can’t stop ourselves from gossiping, judging others, hoarding resources, being greedy, being self-absorbed!

In other words, what we really need is freedom from the self – Freedom from self-concern, self-importance, self-absorbedness, etc.

Jesus Christ provides that freedom!

Matt 5:17
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

And how do we know we have found Jesus? We obey the laws!!!

Ps 119:44-45
44 I will always obey your law, for ever and ever. 45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.

But how can that be the answer? “Laws restrict us and bind us!” you may say. Yes, but only if you obey them IN ORDER TO find acceptance. But if we see the laws as God’s love and concern for us, then we will obey them BECAUSE we have found acceptance in Him.

In other words, when we find Jesus, we become free from the self and we will want to do what God wants.

And God’s law will become something that is a pleasure to obey – just like a child who is convinced that his dad’s instruction is absolute best for him.

Jesus changes not only what we do, but more importantly, what we want to do.

Has your heart changed? How do you feel about the Laws? Do you delight in His laws?

Jesus IS God’s law personified!!! Praise God!

Not clear? Email me and I’ll explain more at length…

See you Sunday!

PH