1 Cor 6:19-20
“…You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God…”
This seems to be such a stark contrast to the world’s definition of freedom. We like to think of ourselves as being under the control of no one. We want democracy, freedoms and independence.
In God’s economy, we are free because He purchased us! Therefore, we no longer belong to ourselves but to Him.
It’s amazing how, when we were not under His control (unbelievers) we were so jacked up and on a path to nowhere; often times destruction. Although we claim to be free, we’re slaves to our own finiteness and limitations (Rom 6:16) “…we are slaves to whom we obey…” We are slaves to sin (because it is our eternal disease from the beginning of time) or we are slaves to righteousness (by surrendering to the one who purchased us through his suffering).
I can’t help but laugh: either way, we are slaves! We claim to be free, making our own decisions. I’m too busy for God, I don’t need God or God doesn’t really understand. Although you wish something so or believe it with all your heart, it doesn’t make it true. Truth is truth despite our weird explanations or reasoning.
God welcomes us to freedom, by purchasing us. He frees us from our own evil, from any other force of evil, and from the wages that we’ve earned because of our screw-ups etc. After all, He is God. He sees and understands differently. We know nothing next to Him. Maybe His ways are better than ours.
You tell me which form of slavery actually has freedom!
Freedom is not asserting a ‘right’ and shifting the responsibility onto someone else. We see this all the time in our culture. We often think that the government (or at least someone other than us) should pay for the consequences we’ve reaped by asserting a right and forfeiting the responsibility that comes with that right. (e.g. we have the right to bear arms and with that right comes the responsibility of not using that right to kill someone)
Galatians says that we were “called to freedom” but not to use it as an opportunity for personal gain or pleasure. There is a responsibility or a will to obey concerning the gifts (rights, privileges etc.) we’re given.
(Personal) Freedom is surrender. It is assuming responsibility for the gift we’ve received. It is slavery to a transcending authority that has our best interests at heart.
“…You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God…”
This seems to be such a stark contrast to the world’s definition of freedom. We like to think of ourselves as being under the control of no one. We want democracy, freedoms and independence.
In God’s economy, we are free because He purchased us! Therefore, we no longer belong to ourselves but to Him.
It’s amazing how, when we were not under His control (unbelievers) we were so jacked up and on a path to nowhere; often times destruction. Although we claim to be free, we’re slaves to our own finiteness and limitations (Rom 6:16) “…we are slaves to whom we obey…” We are slaves to sin (because it is our eternal disease from the beginning of time) or we are slaves to righteousness (by surrendering to the one who purchased us through his suffering).
I can’t help but laugh: either way, we are slaves! We claim to be free, making our own decisions. I’m too busy for God, I don’t need God or God doesn’t really understand. Although you wish something so or believe it with all your heart, it doesn’t make it true. Truth is truth despite our weird explanations or reasoning.
God welcomes us to freedom, by purchasing us. He frees us from our own evil, from any other force of evil, and from the wages that we’ve earned because of our screw-ups etc. After all, He is God. He sees and understands differently. We know nothing next to Him. Maybe His ways are better than ours.
You tell me which form of slavery actually has freedom!
Freedom is not asserting a ‘right’ and shifting the responsibility onto someone else. We see this all the time in our culture. We often think that the government (or at least someone other than us) should pay for the consequences we’ve reaped by asserting a right and forfeiting the responsibility that comes with that right. (e.g. we have the right to bear arms and with that right comes the responsibility of not using that right to kill someone)
Galatians says that we were “called to freedom” but not to use it as an opportunity for personal gain or pleasure. There is a responsibility or a will to obey concerning the gifts (rights, privileges etc.) we’re given.
(Personal) Freedom is surrender. It is assuming responsibility for the gift we’ve received. It is slavery to a transcending authority that has our best interests at heart.
2 comments:
Beaty-
Thanks so much for the message on freedom. I needed to hear that today. Willful surrender to God who has our best interests at heart. Now, that's true, beautiful freedom! Freedom IN Christ.
Enjoying the newsletters you send out and hope your Elevate year is a great one this year.
Thanks so much Jennifer. We still have not had a teacher sponsor as good as you!
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