Freedom is Free
If you could describe real freedom to me, how would you do it? What does it look like to you?
Is it peace or total control? Time or money, or looking perfect? Having everything together and space for more? What is it that makes you feel the most free? We picture freedom and see ourselves frolicking in a big open field at sunrise totally full of energy eating fresh fruit and hearing the birds chirp softly while our eyes are stunned by the beauty of nature…but what does freedom look like after that moment of awe? No one wants just a mere moment of freedom; everyone wants a lifetime of freedom.
There is a fine line between total freedom and total slavery. Slavery to ourselves, slavery to others, to our past, to our insecurity and the opinions of the people around us. Freedom to me is security. Jesus says in the book of John chapter 8 verse 32, “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” A couple chapters later in chapter 14 verse 6 He says, “I am the way the truth and the life.”
The truth that sets us free is embodied by Jesus and we receive His truth by opening our closed hearts and allowing Him come in and wash us with His Word. Purifying the parts that are dark, cleaning us up so we can be pure lacking nothing and ready to stand firm in the truth He blesses us with. When Jesus does something He does it right. Once we are free, honey, we are free.
What is truth?
You are not the first to ask this. John 18:38a says, “‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked.”
The truth is that you are your Father’s child. We’ve all been taught the simple things like: I am made in the image of God. I am a child of God. My Creator is the Lord. But what does that mean lived out? Let’s look at John 10. This whole chapter Jesus is speaking to us directly, deliberately telling us who we are in Him.
I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd [Jesus] of the sheep [us]. The gatekeeper [God the Father] opens the gate for him [Jesus], and the sheep [us] recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep [you and me] by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them and they follow him because they know his voice [Ps. 85:8-9: ‘He speaks peace to His faithful people’]. They won’t follow a stranger [this world]; they will run from him because they don't know his voice.” John 10:1-5 NLT (notes are mine)
Who we listen to determines how we live. God will always speak to us with peace. The world will always speak to us with stress covered lies. This passage starts off by saying, “I tell you the truth,” we can be sure this is true. Then Jesus goes on to say that He calls us by name, and when we come to him and run towards that calling, he trades us our suffering, our anxiety and our evil thoughts—every unclean part of our lives—and in return grants us peace, freedom, joy, and everlasting life. He becomes the strength of our life and when we fail, He lifts us up. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” becomes our reality.
Here are two ways to receive this truth:
Be Honest.
To receive we need to believe that Jesus is the way the truth and the life. We need to receive it for ourselves and make Him our way, truth and life. When you give up your life, you find your true life. Honesty creates freedom because it’s real. Be real with yourself asking where you are at right now. Take a moment to evaluate the life you are living. Is Jesus number one in your life or are their other things and other stressors in between you and Him, keeping you from the life of freedom you so desire.
Be Open.
Insecurity makes us want to hide. We clench our fits holding on so tightly to control. Nothing is getting in or out of that fist, which, in a way, makes us feel safe. A sense that we really do have total control over what we cannot control.
Living all clenched up is no way to live. It’s tight and stiff with no room to breathe. Creating an environment of anxiety because deep down we know we do not have control. We know we are not God even though we try to be. Releasing the clenched fits feels like we are going to loose it all. Let me tell you real quick, letting go does not mean loosing it all. It could mean gaining more than you ever thought was possible.
When we walk with open hands not only are we giving control back to Jesus, but we are creating space to receive more and give more. Closed lives—closed hands—cannot give anything or receive anything. It is complacent and fixed to whatever is already there. No room for love, light, or any sort of joy that created realness and vulnerability. Opening our lives up allows us to stand firm in the truth we are given, growing our roots down to keep us steady as we walk through life. Open hands allow us to vertically receive from the Lord so we can horizontally give to other people and serve with our eyes focused up on Him and out on Others. Closed hands are selfish and insecure hands. Open hands are servant hearted and secure hands.
These open hands are used to giving and receiving more than they can ask think or imagine. When you give up your imperfect life to your perfect Creator the blessings are endless. I highly recommend you go read Romans 8:32. God is always ready to give us everything we need and desire. I pray your heart aligns with His and your ways become clear as your hands begin to open and receive all the promises God has for you. Imagine having such closed hands God can’t even bless you because there is no room for his vast goodness. I want you to be fully blessed and covered in favor, but it begins with you. With your willingness to open your heart to His.
Freedom starts and ends with Jesus. It’s the safety to be fully known and loved. You are already secure in the Lord so the assurance that other people give you or do not give you have no effect on how you view your worth.
Freedom is joy without guilt. Saying yes to what you love, ice cream after dinner, allowing people to compliment you without bouncing it back, resting on a Sunday without hustling in the grind. It feels like success with no overthinking or restricting. REAL freedom is not being owned by anyone or anything because you are held in the arms of your Heavenly Father. You become the unshakeable, steadfast tree that can withstand anything (Ps. 1:1-3).
Freedom doesn’t mean everything is easy, it means you know Who you rely on for your strength. You know Who writes your story so the next chapter does not scare you—it excites you. Freedom is being okay with resting in the presence of God without striving to do more or be more. Knowing your worth was set before you, before were even born. Without you ever accomplishing one thing, God chose you for greatness. Freedom means not allowing your past to define any longer because the blood of Jesus covers you for your past present and future.
YOU are chosen, redeemed, forgiven, accepted and loved and innately worthy of every single one of your dreams and the blessings God has in store for you. You deserve a life of freedom because Jesus says so. Period. Freedom is free for you and for me because Jesus paid for us to have it be.
