Freedom in Christ

A few days ago, one of the directors here on DBSP gave a talk about real freedom in Christ. Now, let me start off by saying I know what you're thinking..I've heard this a miiiiilllliiioonnnn times!! Yeah..that's what I thought too. But allow your mind to be opened by this summary of his talk and allow yourself to be freed from the chains you've tied yourselves down with..because Christ has freed you and you are no longer a slave to sin!

I think it's interesting; nowadays, don't we believe that being burdened down is normal? That's awful! What kind of world do we live in where a state of constant struggling is normal?!? Aye! Scripture tells us that "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."

It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free.....what the flip does that mean? I can't tell you how many times I've wondered what the point of this verse was. What does this even MEAN? Christ set us free for freedom? I don't get it. Let me put it in these words: Christ set us free so that we could be free! Ohhh..now it all makes sense! :] Haha. Ok, maybe I'm the only slow one that was confused by that verse but now I finally get it. Christ didn't set us free so that we could just turn right back around and do things that we thought were "good enough" to earn our way to heaven. He set us free FROM those things.

Rich put this in perspective. Being a college student, I completely understand how much work is involved in homework assignments and projects. A paper requires hours upon hours of research plus the actual composition of the paper itself. It's not easy. It takes a lot of time and effort..especially during finals week. Well, let's say finals week rolls around. I'm pullin' all nighters studying for psychology and I'm bogged down with work. Well Friday rolls around and my last exam is at 10 in the morning. PHEW!..I'm done!! It's over, no more work..my grade is in!! Well for some strange reason I'm still kicking. I feel like my work isn't done, so I get back on the computer and pick a topic: Quantum physics (my normal paper topic, of course). I spend hours researching the topic and finally put together a 25 page paper. It's great and during the process I'm learning a lot! I finally finish, and on Saturday morning (because I always write my papers that quickly), I walk up to my psychology professor's office, knock on her door, and hand her my baby.

Pause..

Please take a moment to picture the look on her face........got it in your head??

She's thrilled right? She immediately tells me she will boost my grade..... No. She just stares at me. My grade was established after I finished my last exam on Friday. There is nothing further I can do. I would be foolish to put all of that time and work into that paper because my grade has already been entered into the computer as final. (Do you see where this illustration is going?) That's exactly how it is in our walk with the Lord. All that extra "stuff" is unnecessary.

For example, it's hard for me not to think that if I don't spend at least 30 minutes with the Lord every day, I'm losing favor in His eyes. Ridiculous, right? But it's crossed your mind before. What about when you DO spend time with God in scripture and you tell yourself you have to be in the spiritual "mood" for it or else it doesn't "work." Anyone else getting how stupid this sounds? Yeah. See, we're trying to make rules for ourselves. We want to be able to put a barrier around God so that we can have some kind of structure in our lives. Structure is good, but not here. God cannot be put inside of a box, and our faith cannot be explained away by a list of things we do.

Freedom: a state of exemption from the power or control of another.

I think something really important for us to remember is that we can't come up with a set of rules to make us look better in God's eyes. On our worst day, He is Christ in us. We're going to fail. There will be days when we don't "feel" God in our quiet times. There will always be times when we wake up late and only get 10 minutes with the Lord or not at all, but we need to get it out of our minds that we have to redeem ourselves by "doing" something..because we can't. When we turn in our 25 page paper after the due date, we're only putting in extra work that means nothing to our professor. And it just doesn't make sense.

So be free. Throw down the chains you've put on yourselves and be free.



So Travis is finally here! He's doing great after his surgery..so thanks for all the prayers. He's from Norfolk and is the only person on Project who knows CNU! Yeahhh!! :] Haha. Keep praying for Paul. I haven't seen him in the last few days but if I do I want to ask him how his dad is, so hopefully we'll bump into each other!! Also, the Maroon's get home from France today!'! They're actually on the plane now, so pray for safety!! Welcome home, little worms :] Haha. And my last bit of news, I am now EMPLOYED!! :] I will be working full time at the front desk next door at the hotel (Perry's) for the rest of the time here. Pray that I will do a good job, but most importantly that God will use me in that position for His glory. Pray also for the rest of the students here who don't have jobs. There are still a few and I know it's definitely hard. Thanks!! I really appreciate all the support.

That is all. Have a wonderful Wednesday night :]