Use Your Free Will to Be Free
Use Your Free Will to Be Free
Use Your Free Will to Be Free
Use Your Free Will to Be Free
You have been given freedom. Freedom to make choices on what you allow your mind to dwell on. Freedom to make choices on what you will do and how you will approach your work. Freedom to make choices on what or whom you will serve.
You have been given freedom. Freedom to make choices on what you allow your mind to dwell on. Freedom to make choices on what you will do and how you will approach your work. Freedom to make choices on what or whom you will serve.
Are you worried about money? Are you concerned about what people think of you? Are you absorbed with your career? Are you overly protective of your family?
Everyone serves something or someone. Think about it, the last major decision you made — based on your free will — was motivated by something or someone. The underlying motivations behind that decision are now what you are serving. If your motivation was to please a particular person — you now serve them. If your motivation was a better life through money, power, fame, or even your insecurities — you now are in the service of one of those things. Decisions are made based on underlying values and motivations — good decisions and bad decisions — and the results leave you in service to the reason you made this decision.
Freedom’s Source
Jesus is the only One you can serve that gives you true freedom. Jesus says, I no longer call you servants, I call you friends (John 15:15). The Source of our life, identity, and freedom is our Maker (Psalm 139: 13-14) and Redeemer who makes us new (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). The Apostle Paul was led by the Spirit to help us understand and fully receive the Source and power available to us to live a life of freedom.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. -[.no-reftag]Galatians 5:1[.no-reftag]
Freedom’s Call
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. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. -[.no-reftag]Galatians 5:13-15[.no-reftag]
The call — the major purpose — of our life and work is to follow Jesus and serve our neighbors. Serving our neighbors is the way we follow Jesus. This is the entire reason God gave us work — as a means to love others. Dallas Willard says the fundamental structure of business in the kingdom of God is to make provision for people.
Let’s not use our freedom to follow our own selfish desires. Let’s not use our work as a way to get ahead of others. Instead, let’s surrender our selfish desires in order to receive real freedom, peace, and joy that lasts forever.
Freedom’s Battle
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:16-21
The last time you were held captive by stress, worry, or anxiety*, it was likely as a result of serving your own fleshly desires. Following fleshly desires leads to death. But, freedom is found by following the Spirit — following Jesus. Jesus is offering more than our fleshy hearts and minds can think or imagine — the kingdom of God! Let the Spirit lead you as you walk in the work God has given you.
*(of course there are other sources like trauma based anxiety that is based on the actions of others)
Freedom’s Fruit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. -[.no-reftag]Galatians 5:22-25[.no-reftag]
We have free will to make choices — through the Spirit — that lead us to true freedom. The results of free will choices made in the Spirit are real fruit displayed in our lives and the lives of those we serve. Let’s experience the joy of helping others know they are loved and that they have a Savior who is gentle and faithful to care for them.
True freedom is synonymous with being led by the Spirit of Jesus. Let’s be free — let’s walk in the Spirit as we love and serve others pointing them to Jesus, our Source of life and true freedom today.
Useful Links
Look At The Book - War In The Christian Soul
Choose Opportunity — Choose Relationships First
Becoming Extraordinarily Effective
Book - New Morning Mercies
Photo Credit: Blair Ball Photography
You have been given freedom. Freedom to make choices on what you allow your mind to dwell on. Freedom to make choices on what you will do and how you will approach your work. Freedom to make choices on what or whom you will serve.
Are you worried about money? Are you concerned about what people think of you? Are you absorbed with your career? Are you overly protective of your family?
Everyone serves something or someone. Think about it, the last major decision you made — based on your free will — was motivated by something or someone. The underlying motivations behind that decision are now what you are serving. If your motivation was to please a particular person — you now serve them. If your motivation was a better life through money, power, fame, or even your insecurities — you now are in the service of one of those things. Decisions are made based on underlying values and motivations — good decisions and bad decisions — and the results leave you in service to the reason you made this decision.
Freedom’s Source
Jesus is the only One you can serve that gives you true freedom. Jesus says, I no longer call you servants, I call you friends (John 15:15). The Source of our life, identity, and freedom is our Maker (Psalm 139: 13-14) and Redeemer who makes us new (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). The Apostle Paul was led by the Spirit to help us understand and fully receive the Source and power available to us to live a life of freedom.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. -[.no-reftag]Galatians 5:1[.no-reftag]
Freedom’s Call
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. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. -[.no-reftag]Galatians 5:13-15[.no-reftag]
The call — the major purpose — of our life and work is to follow Jesus and serve our neighbors. Serving our neighbors is the way we follow Jesus. This is the entire reason God gave us work — as a means to love others. Dallas Willard says the fundamental structure of business in the kingdom of God is to make provision for people.
Let’s not use our freedom to follow our own selfish desires. Let’s not use our work as a way to get ahead of others. Instead, let’s surrender our selfish desires in order to receive real freedom, peace, and joy that lasts forever.
Freedom’s Battle
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:16-21
The last time you were held captive by stress, worry, or anxiety*, it was likely as a result of serving your own fleshly desires. Following fleshly desires leads to death. But, freedom is found by following the Spirit — following Jesus. Jesus is offering more than our fleshy hearts and minds can think or imagine — the kingdom of God! Let the Spirit lead you as you walk in the work God has given you.
*(of course there are other sources like trauma based anxiety that is based on the actions of others)
Freedom’s Fruit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. -[.no-reftag]Galatians 5:22-25[.no-reftag]
We have free will to make choices — through the Spirit — that lead us to true freedom. The results of free will choices made in the Spirit are real fruit displayed in our lives and the lives of those we serve. Let’s experience the joy of helping others know they are loved and that they have a Savior who is gentle and faithful to care for them.
True freedom is synonymous with being led by the Spirit of Jesus. Let’s be free — let’s walk in the Spirit as we love and serve others pointing them to Jesus, our Source of life and true freedom today.
Useful Links
Look At The Book - War In The Christian Soul
Choose Opportunity — Choose Relationships First
Becoming Extraordinarily Effective
Book - New Morning Mercies
Photo Credit: Blair Ball Photography