Let Freedom Ring!

" Now the Lord is the Spirit, 

and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 

there is freedom."

2 Corinthians 3:17

We are hearing so much about "freedom" these days, along with "choice", "rights", and "liberty". And, no wonder...this country called "The United States of America" was founded on  those ideals. The well-known, well-worn words of the July 4th,1776 Declaration of Independence gives this testimony: 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."   

(You may wish to read it in it's entirety, here.)

I've been wondering how God views freedom...

What does He have to say about it? 

A LOT!!!!!!!

The very first verse that comes to my mind is Galatians 5:13: 

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." (NAS)

The NIV states it this way: "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."

This verse is so all-inclusive, I could just stop typing right there, and it would be enough to live by. But, while looking that one up, I saw so many more....

1 Corinthians 8:9 "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak."

1 Peter 2:16 "As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."

Let's ask the question: Freedom from what? 
Romans 6:20-23 has some answers: 
"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 Corinthians 7:22 "For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord's freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave."

Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

2 Peter 2:19 "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."

Answer: We may choose to be free from sin!

Another question: Freedom to do what? 

Romans 15:1-3: "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and notjust please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself;"

Philippians 2:3-8: "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Galatians 5:14 "For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” "

Philippians 2:5 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

1 Corinthians 9:19 "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible."

Answer: We are free to serve one another in love.
Yep, we are right back to Galatians 5! 

Perhaps, you are disappointed that I did not enter into a current events debate, to help you resolve in your own mind what is the "right" position on the issues at hand...

Let me leave you with these verses:

James 1:25  "But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it--not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it--they will be blessed in what they do."

John 8:32  "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

God has all the answers.

It's ME!!! :-D

I am having a "me" day. 

No,  

not a day that I am living for myself, serving my own desires, 

putting my needs above others, or being otherwise selfish or exclusive!

By saying "a me day", 

I mean a day that feels right for me...

one that reflects what is most important to me, 

 what my priorities are, 

what my convictions are, 

and,my truest, purest choices

...a day that reveals my heart.  

This will require further explanation, I see...

 Growing up, as an adopted (and "only") child, I often heard stories of other adopted people setting out to "find themselves". I thought this was silly. And, perhaps, it is not something that only adopted people do. All of us, to some extent, tend to base our understanding of ourselves upon our comparison of other's lives, as well as according to what others think of us. I suppose this is natural.  But, we can get really mixed up doing this self-hunt this way! 

"For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding." (2 Corinthians 10:12)

For the most part, I have always been comfortable "in my own skin", as they say. I liked being alone, because I liked myself okay. But, I do remember looking at others, and deciding that I would like to cultivate a quality that I appreciated in them. I also remember deciding to avoid certain behaviors/attitudes/characteristics that I felt were less desirable.

Nowadays, I hear the phrases, "Get REAL!" and "Be NORMAL!" ... neither of which are conducive to being true to yourself.   Both "real" and "normal" generally refer to what the rest of the population are doing, which is not often or always right in God's sight.

"And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." (Luke 16:15) 

In my Christian journey of 34 years or so, I have been growing in my understanding of myself, as I grow in my understanding of my Savior. 

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" (Ephesians 4:15)
"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." (Romans 13:14)
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Somewhere along the way, I allowed the voice of others to prevail against the voice of the Holy Spirit and my own, inner voice...and, I gradually all-but "lost" the "real me".  I have realized anew that it is every bit as important to be true to yourself, as it is to be true to God; and, that this should be done simultaneously!

This morning,  it occurred to me that I was experiencing that glorious combination and balance again. What that amounts to for me is simply this:

~ apply the principles of God's Word in a way that reflects the way that He created me...a unique being.

If we pattern ourselves after other people, either we will become hypocrites or become very disillusioned with ourselves.  Our thought processes, and our choices, should reflect our true nature, as well as the nature of God. 

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. "
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Philippians 3:12)
 "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."  (1 John 3:2)

So... 

dressed in my long, loose layers of comfortable, cotton, home-sewn clothing; 

eating kale chips & almonds; sipping a fruit smoothie from a glass straw; 

hanging my homemade soap-scented laundry outside to dry; 

spying (with camera in hand) on the birds at the feeders outside my kitchen window; 

folk music predominating all other genres; 

colorful rag rug in the making by my side; 

grandson safely tucked-in for a nap; 

reveling in sons and daughters exploring and learning and serving and working; 

basking in the love of a good man...

these things and many more make me "ME"!

I am happy with me, 

and 

happy in the Lord.