I went to a different church today with my sister. It is a more contemporary church that has music and an atmosphere that attracts mostly young people. The music is probably the most contemporary thing about the church. They have a band with drums, electric guitars, and two singers. They also have a screen with the words on it at the front of the church. The music of course is great and so is having the words right in front of me (I like looking up instead of down). We sang a song this mornng by the Newsboys called "I am Free." I've heard the song before, on the radio I believe. I liked it a lot. It has a good beat, good words, and great meaning. But as I was singing I was looking around at the people worshiping along with me. I felt a sudden sadness for the ones (many I felt) that do not understand the true, wonderful meaning of the words of the song. One line especially "I am free to live for You" made me think this. I wondered how many people understood that we are not just free to live, but to live for God! Oh what an important concept. I feel God has been teaching me about freedom lately, and what it means to be free. It started with a conversation with a friend, and then I read about it in a bible study, then I heard it in a sermon at church, and today, not only did I have those thoughts during the song but I also read a blog of a friend that really had some good points about freedom in Christ.
I love how God knows that we learn best through experience and practice :)
I will quote Randy Pope from the bible study I am doing because I love how he worded it. "True Freedom is having the power to act in harmony with the truth. The freedom Jesus promises is freedom from our fallen selves, and the power to live according to His word."
Paul says in Galations 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
and then in 4:7
"So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
and then a wonderful verse 4:31-5:1
"Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. 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."
As I read in a blog just now, that yoke of slavery is our attempts to "win God's favor" through works. Eph 2:8,9. BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH...NOT OF WORKS! WOO HOO.
Father I pray that You will continue to remind me that I am free in You and that because You loved me enough to save me, and wash me white as snow, I do not have to work for Your affections but instead can joyfully follow Your wonderful law.
