In Christ: A Call to Reclaim Freedom
By Abbey Nobles
As Christians, we have a call to reclaim what freedom means. Freedom the world talks about and freedom Christ talks about have outward similarities, but eternal differences.
For most of my life I have strived to be one thing: free. Free to do what brings me joy, to be fun, to create, to be busy doing “awesome things,” free to travel the globe, to not be held down, to have an existence that is admired and inspired. But, this is not divine freedom. This may be what some call “earthly freedom” but it is not freedom in Christ.
For me, this quest for “freedom” led me to do and be things that were not Christ-given and that affected my physical health, my relationship with myself and others. This quest for inner freedom has been the root of my sinful struggle with control, the mother of my crippling anxiety driven from the need to forever possess this freedom, the cause of a past disillusioned by disordered eating, and a struggle with overcommitting and under-serving people who really needed me.
As Christians, true freedom in Christ must look different in our spirits. True freedom in Christ bring us health of heart, vitality of spirit, and a glimpse at eternity’s perfection.
Freedom is…
Love of the Lord, love of our neighbor, and love of ourselves. (For he created us in His image, it is only good and right for us to love who he formed perfectly for his glory and be confident in this.)
Deep inner joy and peace in pain, struggle, and trials. (Even in struggle with sin: remember to count it joy to experience trials and hardships (James 1:2-4)).
Patience and kindness with ourselves and others as we learn and mature in the knowledge of Christ and the freedom He has for us.
Goodness and enjoying the goodness the Lord has given us in this world: the table of wine and food, friends, nature, activities, our homes, to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).
Faithfulness that we may always turn to Him, that in every step we try to be more and more like Him.
Gentleness that we share with the world; grace and love toward ourselves and each other.
Self control that as we walk in step with the Holy Spirit and make hard decisions to say no to the drunkenness, to say no to the comparison and jealousy, to say no to the lust, that second glance, that thought of “what could be,” to say no to the idea that I am in control. Every moment we remember to say no to our sin, he gives us confidence, a small victory won.
In the Freedom Jesus offers us through his death on the cross, we have overcome Sin and we have the freedom to be ourselves in Christ. Jesus sees us in our perfect state, in our heavenly state. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Every second is the opportunity for a new victory and a new found freedom.
As we move toward oneness with Christ, we become more convicted by the Holy Spirit, more like ourselves, free in our own skin created by God, deeper listeners, and free to experience every day for His purpose, to rise daily knowing and understanding that “this is the day that the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it” (Psalm 118:24).