Have you been immobilized by choices? Certain important choices were laid in front of you and you didn’t know which one to choose?

Isn’t it ironic that what we suppose will give us freedom actually ends up binding us? Do we not think freedom is having a choice? Doing what we want when we want? Then, how can having choices immobilize us?

It’s because of a misunderstanding of the nature of freedom. Follow this thought:

Bondage comes from having our will divided. It happens when what we want to do is different from what we should do. For example, it is bondage for a teenager to stay home on Friday night because he’s been told to do so by his parents, but only if he wants to go out. It wouldn’t be bondage at all if he wanted to stay home. In this sense, a marriage could be looked at either as bondage or freedom. If the couple wants out of the marriage, then the marriage is bondage. But if they love each other and wouldn’t consider being apart for a moment, then it’s the most freeing thing. Freedom, then, is transcendent of choice. It wouldn’t matter if divorce is a choice, for it will never be taken! True freedom comes when what we want to do matches up with what we should do. Heaven will be a totally free and yet sinless place because the people there will always do what they should do and that is exactly what they want to do. So, then the discipline in life is to match what we want to do with what we should do. It is training our senses so that our emotions will match with our desired action. And it is those who see that God has their best interest in mind who will willingly obey. They “see” that what God has prescribed is indeed what’s best for them and therefore, they want to obey. Now, their will is aligned with their desire. That’s freedom.

Notice then, what is necessary for freedom: 1) Moral absolute (What we should do) 2) Corresponding desire (what we want to do)

John 8:31-32 [31] So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, [32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Do you see Jesus laying out the moral absolute (“my word”) and corresponding desire (which He earned through His acts)?

Loving Jesus and doing His will gladly is freedom!

PH

p.s. Sorry if this is too heavy for a Monday morning devotional…