The other day I was rummaging around in my closet and came across a shirt that I hadn’t seen in a long time. It had been so long since I had laid eyes on it that I had forgotten that I had it! Yet, at one time, it had been a focal point for me – worn at least once or twice weekly.
I sometimes wonder if our freedom in and through Christ isn’t like that forgotten favourite shirt of mine. At one point, our spirit was unencumbered by the things of this world. We felt free to be all that God had created us to be. And we wore that freedom daily – not unlike a treasured garment – lovingly wrapping us and empowering our mental outlook on everything we encountered.
But then, other things moved in. The freedom we walked in started to become obscured by all that was getting placed in our spiritual ‘closet.’ Daily, more items are packed into that space. Life became cluttered and disordered. And then, one day, probably without any warning, the freedom was gone. It dropped out of our minds, and we lost track of what it was and what it had provided to us. That crowded closet became this accepted situation we just worked with daily. And this became our normal – our regular state of being. The power of our daily freedom is forgotten.
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1(ESV).
Each day we are faced with situations that are subtly and intentionally clouding our freedom from our view. It is an obvious tactic the enemy uses to enslave our outlook on lives and living slowly. Removing us from the freedom that is ours through Christ; until we live a life of less, with perspectives that are neither strong nor open—simply existing in a daily humdrum of moment-to-moment.
Yet, when Jesus called us out of our sinful ways, He specifically noted to us that His truth was setting us free. Free from sin and death; beyond the world’s desire to condemn and hold down. Daily, we must embrace and hold close to this gift of freedom. We are not to live held back or detained. Christ’s desire is that His freedom would grant us a new life as His new creation.
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16(ESV).
Have you considered your freedom in Christ recently? Perhaps, your spiritual ‘closet’ has become so cluttered and disordered that you are now only living a portion of the life Christ died to deliver to you. Living lesser-than will NEVER be His plan for you.
It is time to make sure that your freedom is front and center every day in your life. Be sure that it is prominent and central in all things. It is His forever gift to us, wrapping us in His love, care, and protection.
Be free!
