FREEDOM

As I listened to Pastor Mark’s sermon this past Sunday, I jotted down some key words and phrases in preparation for this blog, which were (1) worry, (2) whose will, (3) Jehovah Jirah, (4) confidence, (5) faith, (6) the twelve spies, (7) Hebrews 11:1, (8) God will make a way, (9) transcending human limitations, (10) peace that passes understanding and (13) Jesus is the cornerstone.

The word that is missing from this list is freedom.  When we choose to follow Christ, to have His word wash our lives everyday through reading it, meditating on it, and submitting our all to God’s will, we have a peace that passes understanding and live a life that is joyous, loving, and full of hope.  We aren’t subjected to the world’s approval, which is an addiction that creates all kinds of worry and self-abuse.

One of the basic symptoms of approval addiction is confusing our performance with our worth.  This could be the product of an American society that places great value on performance and less and less value on human life. This is not what God intended.

So, we need to live the life for which God created us.  God has provided the way out of this approval addiction trap.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 (ESV), “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court.  In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted.  It is the Lord who judges me.”

Imagine being liberated from the need to impress people or to be concerned with being judged by them, our self-esteem altered no longer by relying on the impressions we make on them.  Imagine actually loving others that express disapproval of us.  Jesus did this on the cross (forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do).

In conclusion, we all need to ask ourselves about our view of ourselves.  To whom do we belong?  Is it to God or to the world?  Belonging to God alone gives us freedom to live the life we have always wanted.