I AM: A Free Week Eight - Day Two

By Central Women

As a young child, I remember spending many afternoons running around our yard making up the craziest of games. We let our imaginations run wild with no limits to what we could do. In the corner of our yard, we had a large, cement barrel. To this day, I have no idea what its intended purpose was. However, when we were kids, it most often served as the big black kettle that we made soup in. Any number of times we filled it with leaves, grass, and whatever debris we could find in the yard and then we would find the largest stick we could and stir it all up. I may have missed my calling in life with the incredible soup making skills I gained as a young kid!

I am always amazed by the perceptions of children. As an adult, I never believe that one day I might be a superhero just because someone said maybe it could happen. My life experiences and knowledge of life have taught me that this is simply unrealistic. For my child, however, if I told her that one day she could become a superhero, she would believe it with all of her heart. Not only would she believe, but there is a very strong likelihood that she would ask me to make her a superhero cape so she could step into this incredible calling.

What if we approached Scripture the same way that my sweet four-year-old approaches life? Untainted by doubt and skepticism and filled with anticipation of the possibility of what could be. To truly believe there is something more in store for us and allow it to transform our reality? What if...

God’s heart for freedom is one of the most central messages of Scripture. If you spend any time around church culture, it won’t take long for you to be introduced to the verse John 3:16. In fact, whether you grew up in church or you have never stepped foot in a church building, there is a good chance you have come across this verse.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.”

This. This is the depth of God’s heart when it comes to His people experiencing freedom. It was so amazingly important to Him that He sent His own Son to die so that it might be accomplished. This should cause us to pause and take notice that this is a paramount concept that we must not ignore. Merely learning, however, and not allowing ourselves to be transformed by this truth would keep us from experiencing the life-giving goodness that comes from experiencing freedom in Christ.

Grab your Bible and head to John 8:31-38. Take a few moments to read those verses.

This is a continuation of a conversation Jesus was having with the Jews. He had given them a sharp warning telling them that as they continued to live in sin, they would remain a slave to this world. He continued with acknowledging that as long as they were a slave to this world, their place would not be with Him. Slowly, some of them began to understand what He was saying.

Pick it up in verse 31. I have heard many people say if only there were a simple formula to follow. Well, my friends. Here it is. Jesus walks them through exactly how to step into the freedom that is found only through Him. He starts with telling them how to be His disciple.

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” (v.31)

To be a disciple means to be a student of or a follower. The “how-to” be a disciple comes at the beginning of this verse. The Greek word in which abide was translated from, meinēte, literally means to stay or continue. By remaining or continuing in the word, life transformation takes place. This is how we become disciples of Jesus.

Jesus goes on, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (v. 32). If you desire to experience all of the goodness that God has in store for you, it starts with abiding in Christ. This is when we will know true freedom.

Keep reading and you’ll see the response from the Jews. They are confused about Jesus’ statement about being set free. From their limited and narrow understanding, they are the “offspring of Abraham,” therefore why would Jesus be telling them that they will be set free? To their knowledge, they have never been a slave to anyone. For the majority of us, we would likely find ourselves with that same response.

What ways are you allowing yourself to continue to be a slave to this world and not allowing the transformative power of God’s truth to set you free?

How easy is it for us to be completely blind to “the sin that so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1) and makes us a slave to this world? We definitely feel the repercussions of sin. We can experience hopelessness, feelings of despair and longing for something more, emptiness.

Have you ever stopped to consider why we live with these feelings? This is what continues to make you a slave. However, there is hope, and there is freedom!

“So if the Son set you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:36

It starts with a simple yes.

Yes to choosing to abide and remain in Christ.

Yes to allowing the Son to set you free.

My friends, when we choose to say yes to Jesus, we step into hope, and we step into freedom.

And this, this is how you know that I. Am. Free!

Reflect:

Pray over this promise. Have you chosen to say yes to freedom in Christ? What does your response to this promise need to be today?

Thank You, Father, for the beautiful gift of a life of freedom found only in You. Help me to daily walk in this freedom and no longer be a slave to this world, but to only be found free in Christ’s love.