Worship Devotional CXXIX

Jul 9

Unposted from 7/9/2022.

True Freedom

Worship Devotional for 7/10/22

We speak of freedom often in our culture as though it is about doing whatever we want, with no one to tell us what to do or how to do it. This is the illusion of freedom we craft for ourselves in this world, and it is often quite acceptable to the real slave masters that dominate so many people — the real enemies which are deception, sin, and death. We get caught up even in the church sometimes thinking that our American values or Western ideals can somehow lead us into real freedom. And yet, if we are honest, we don't really feel free in a world of suffering and pain and death. Internal struggles with addiction and sin abound, while relationships suffer in bitterness and division. We know this isn't who we were meant to be, yet some still insist that the answers are found in an earthly kingdom. Is it possible we haven't actually understood what freedom really is?

Only the Creator is truly free, for He is the one and only God, who rules with all authority over all things. There is no one above Him, no one who can tell Him what to do or make Him do anything. He is totally sovereign, not subject to anyone or anything other than Himself. He is completely free, for He alone determines everything He says and does, without influence from anything outside of His own essence. Everything God says and does comes from His own nature and character, which we know from 1 John 4:8, is love.

We know from Genesis 1:26-27 that God created mankind in His own image. And Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 1:15-16:

"But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"

So we were made to reflect the glory of God to the rest of all creation, called by God to become like Him. This calling and identity that we all share as those who have been made in God's image, yet had fallen away because of sin, but now are restored in the image of Christ by grace through faith in Him, speaks profoundly to the very reason for our existence. The mystery goes even deeper, for we were not only made to bear God's image, but to become one with Him in fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The point is this: our true identity is determined by the One who created us and gave us purpose. He has made our purpose known, which is to be like Him as we become one with Him, that we may share and reflect His glory. This means we were made to be free, for true freedom is about being who we really are, living fully in our true identity, not restrained or held back by anything that would try to enslave us. This shows us that true freedom is about love rather than selfish pursuit.

Since freedom ultimately belongs to God, then we can only find true freedom in becoming who He has made us to be — that is, His children who share in His glory and therefore His freedom! Real freedom is in knowing Christ, for we were not made to be slaves of sin, death, or any other force of evil. In Christ, we are reconciled to the One who is the source of truth, love, and life. He has set us free from the real enemies that had previously enslaved us! Now we are free, not to selfishly indulge in sinful lusts and desires, but instead to love like our God has loved us, to serve others like Jesus served, to give like He gave and forgive others as He forgave us. We are free to be who we were really meant to be — children of God who shine with the light of His truth and love to a dark and broken world. This freedom is where the real celebration is. We rejoice as those who were once dead, but have now been brought to life by the grace and love our God has for all of us. May He alone be praised!

Galatians 5:13-14:

"For you were called to be free, brothers; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: 'Love you neighbor as yourself.'"

Romans 8:

"Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin's domain, and as a sin offering, in order that the law's requirement would be accomplished in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God's law, for it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.
So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. All those led by God's Spirit are God's sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back in to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!' The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, and if children also heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ — seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God's sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God's children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.
In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? God is the One who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!"

Luke 10:17-20:

"The Seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.'
He said to them, 'I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash. Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. However, don't rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'"

John 8:30-36:

"As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, 'If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'
'We are descendants of Abraham,' they answered Him, 'and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, "You will become free"?'
Jesus responded, 'I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.'"

Hebrews 2:14-15:

"Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the Devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death."

Hebrews 4:15-16:

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time."

2 Corinthians 3:17: