How to Live and Respond to Freedom

Sometimes I’m caught off guard by the way that God speaks to me. Obviously He speaks though Scripture, though a still small voice, though people…all of that. But I don’t think I’m the only one that will hear something, be it a quote, a lyric, or something someone says and just KNOW that Jesus just used them to communicate something to me. It’s a gift and a wonderful and often funny or ironic one how we get confirmation, explanation, encouragement, or rebuke from so many outlets.

This is exactly what happened when I was listening to CDs I found in my car and heard the lyrics “love will not betray you, dismay or enslave you, it will set you free” (from the Mumford and Sons song, “Sigh No More”) and nearly lost my breath. I had heard those words countless times and had been fully aware of their presence in the song but not like this. It was like He spoke the words out himself – I will not betray you, dismay or enslave you, I will set you free.”

God IS love (1 John 4:8), and He of course, sets us free. Our freedom on Christ is not to be overlooked by to rejoice over! We ARE FREE! WOW (okay, I might be getting fresh revelation about what this means but still, I think we could all spend some time thanking God for the freedom He’s given.).

He will not betray us, dismay us, or enslave us. In fact, He does exactly the opposite.
He is faithful, He comes to our rescue, and He sets us free.

So how do we respond? What do we do with this freedom?

1. Live as free people! We are no longer bound to fear, regret, disappointment, inadequacy (Galatians 4:3-7, Romans 6:6, Romans 6:18, Romans 8:15, John 15:15) – we are FREE to love, live, and  give with Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

2. Know that freedom gives us the opportunity to serve one another – “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but though love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13)

3. Know that freedom released us to serve from His love but that doesn’t give us permission to do whatever we’d like. We need to seek God though prayer and Scripture and seek wise counsel – “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil; live as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

4. Know that in freedom, we need to stand firm and take authority over the enemy in all areas of our lives so we don’t become burdened again by the bondage of sin – “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.” (Galatians 5:1).

Today I am overwhelmed by the reality of the freedom He’s given and that we get to respond to. His LOVE is the solution to every problem, every scenario, to every person, everywhere! His LOVE brings freedom from every fear, past, oppression, darkness. Claim freedom over your life. His LOVE has set you free.

And who the Son sets free is free indeed.
(John 8:36)