We Are Free

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

(1 Peter 2.16)

Meditation

I attended a church for a few Sundays where it was fairly common knowledge there was a small group of members who were active swingers. If you don’t know what a swinger is, I’m glad and I hope you never find out. I’ll tell you this much, it’s not something a follower of Jesus Christ should be doing. I asked one of the people I was sure was not part of that group why no one confronted them. His answer was they were saved, and Jesus died for their sins. I guess most of the people in that church had the idea that once they said the Sinner’s Prayer, they were forgiven from all their sins; past, present and future. They were now free to live any way they wanted from then on.

It’s true that Jesus died once for all sin, but we are not forgiven of future sins we have not repented of and asked to be pardoned for. Those people were very active in that church. They all volunteered at functions and supported all the programs the church was involved with. In their minds, I’m sure they thought they weren't doing anything wrong. What they didn’t have was a preacher to teach them how mistaken they were. For the life of me, I cannot wrap my head around anyone who might think that an adulterous relationship, even one out in the open as theirs was, would not be a sin. Maybe they thought as long as their spouse knew, and was doing the same thing, it would be okay with Jesus. I was so flabbergasted, I couldn’t get away from that church fast enough.

When we repent, turn to Christ, and confess him as Lord of our lives, we are freed from the bondage to sin. Those people at that church were still in bondage. They were still in their sins because there was no repentance in their hearts. Salvation does not give us a license to commit all the sin we want because we're saved. It means we are to strive to not sin anymore. Instead, we are to be more like Christ. By making him Lord of our lives, we have traded the bondage to sin for another bondage, a better one. We have become slaves or bondservants to Christ. He becomes our master and we become his servants doing the work of the kingdom of God here on earth. Jesus’ life while he walked on earth is our example for how we are to live our lives.

Prayer Time

Holy Father, we adore you for your loving kindness. We praise you for the blessings you give us every day. Lord some have the idea that they can use their salvation as an excuse to keep sinning. When we see that happening, don’t let us shy away from warning them. Put every scripture in our thoughts that will help them understand why they are not free to keep sinning. Take from us any thoughts that we are slaves to our old sinful lives, and we can’t help ourselves. Help us to act like slaves to our Lord and Savior. Our obedience to his commands is all that should matter to us. He told us to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind. Then to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. It cannot be any plainer than that. The best part of serving you is that we’re totally free to either serve you or not. Because you love us, it’s easy to love and serve you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!