DISCOVER FOREVER FREEDOM

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” –Galatians 5:13-14

Love frees us. Love already freed us when Christ remained on the cross until every sin was covered, and love freed us past that to break the chains of death as well. But when you are freed from something, you are set towards the purpose of something else. 

As Christians, we are freed from our sinful flesh and set towards the righteousness of Christ. In this freedom, we could do a multitude of things. We could keep on sinning because we know The Lord’s grace is abounding, and He will always forgive…right? Well…maybe. Except that you do not understand freedom if you continue indulging the flesh. True freedom is the denial of yourself, and it will move you to love others more.

Boy, does culture feed us a more backwards lie. Culture tells us self-love is freeing, and loving others is a waste of time. The other day, I saw a quote that actually urged us NOT to forgive those who have hurt you, because you don’t owe your abusers anything. The world tells you to prioritize yourself, because if you are drained of life you have nothing to offer anyone else. There’s this dark lie that we must worship self-care to insure our physical and mental health. And only when our own health is taken care of can we then tend to others. 

Or in other words, culture says the order of love is this: Self > Others > God. 

In fact, it’s not just “culture” that speaks this, but our own natural thoughts and feelings are focused on the self. We have to be told to love others as yourself, because the natural thing to do is put yourself as the most important thing and believe that is fulfilling. 

At this point in my 24 years of life, I have the Americanized definition of freedom. I can pretty much do whatever I want, when I want, to whatever extent I want to do it. I’m married, so I don’t live under my parents. I’m self-supported financially, I have a car to get me anywhere I want to go and the means to fill up the gas tank at any time. I have a lot of freedom and I can choose to entertain myself with this freedom or so it may appear.

God’s Word pleads with us, warning truthfully that the more I use my freedom to please myself, the less free I actually am. Instead, I become a slave to stupid, empty impulses. A slave to alcohol, a slave to affirmation from others, a slave to drugs, a slave to money, a slave to food, a slave to popularity, a slave to perfectionism, a slave to envy, a slave to fleeting things. 

Whatever I am a “slave” to will control my emotions, my identity, my worth, my choices, and my life. 

If I am only free so that I can enjoy myself, this “freedom” is fake. 

This false freedom can quickly become evil. 

This freedom can turn dark on me. 

But, there’s another type of freedom. 

The liberation from sin is only because of Christ’s death on the cross, which allows us the capability to love. And what should you do with all this love? Love God, then love others as you love yourself. This doesn’t mean you love yourself less. Do not invalidate what God Himself did in order to redeem you. He shed His blood for you—you have so much value and worth because you were made in His image! 

Serving one another humbly in love, showing humility, is not thinking less of yourself. Humility is thinking of yourself less often. Think of others more often than you think of yourself, and love others as equally as you love yourself. Do not think of yourself higher than others, but do not think yourself lower than others either. 

This makes love sound kind of hard, doesn’t it? If you try loving with your own strength it will naturally be the most selfish and conditional feeble attempt at love. I cannot love others the way I wish I could—especially if I do not even know love. So, in order to love others and to properly love myself, I have to seek the source of love. I have to know God to know love. 

The true order of love is this: God > Others > Self. 

That is where we find our freedom.

I’ve never been freer in life than since the day I committed myself as a slave to Christ, and every day since then I’ve felt the joy of this liberation! Praise the Lord, because this type of freedom is for ALL His people in every land on earth! Understanding the weight that has been lifted, the debt that has been paid, the prison chains of death that have been broken, all because of Christ’s love is enough to overflow our hearts.

I am not freed from suffering, or pain, or sickness, or loss, or poverty, etc. I am freed from my own sin and myself, so that I can be set towards the righteousness of Christ. I am not freed for myself by Christ. I am freed FROM myself FOR Christ alone. This understanding is small, but pivotal. Seek the Lord first and experience complete and everlasting liberation and freedom. 

~Kassidy Strause 

Kassidy would love to connect with you! She loves finding the extraordinary in everyday life and sharing what the Lord is teaching her in each season. Follow her on Insta @kassidystrause