For Freedom

                Galatians 5 starts out with the powerful phrase, “It is for freedom
that Christ has set us free.” You’re probably thinking to yourself, ” Yeah…I’ve read that
before. So?” The rest of the verse continues on to say,
” stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke
of slavery.” Now you’re thinking, ” Ok, I’ve heard about this so
many times. What else could you possibly
add?” Well, up until recently I’ve
never grasped the beauty of those words Paul wrote so long ago. In fact, I’ve never grasped them at all. Even though I’ve read them so many times, the
words just didn’t seem to sink in.

            Being here in Africa made me realize
something about myself. It made me
realize that for part of my Christian walk I have been so focused on trying to
please God rather than just enjoy who He is. Does God want us to obey His word? Of course. Are we going to fail
everyday at trying to obey it? No
doubt. Is God’s love going to be the
same whether we fail or not? You know
it. See, that’s what Paul was trying to
get across. That’s what freedom in
Christ means. It means that God isn’t
going to abandon us because we’ve screwed up.

            There have been times when I would
get really down on myself for missing an opportunity to share God’s love. There have also been times when I would read
scripture over and over again so I could remember what it said through out the
day. Which isn’t a bad thing. It’s a good thing actually. However, I was doing it with the wrong
attitude. I was doing it with the
attitude of simply trying to please God. Then when I messed up, I felt like a failure.

            I was missing it! I was missing that there is freedom in Christ
to make mistakes. Romans 8 says that, “there
is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through
Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and
death.” (verses 1-2). I can’t
believe it took me 11 years of being a Christian to figure this out. Some people may think that just because
someone is on a mission trip, then they must have it all together. That’s what I thought too! For those people who think that I want to
tell you that you are dead wrong. Whether we’re in the states or halfway across the world, we’re all
struggling with something. There is
always going to be something that our eyes need opening to. 

            Please don’t get me wrong. Now that my eyes have been opened to this
freedom in Christ, that doesn’t mean that it gives me permission to say, “
Oh, it’s ok if I do it just this one time. God will forgive me. He loves me, right?” First of all, it’s not going to be “just
this one time” One tim will end up
being hundreds of times. Second of all,
that’s what some people call “greasy grace” and 1 Peter warns us
against it: “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover
up for evil; live as servants of God.” -1 Peter 2:16

            I know that I will never be perfect
until I’m actually in heaven worshipping at the feet of the Savior. Until then I will continue to fail, but God
will be right there to help and transform me into His image. Little by little God has been showing me more
of His love. It still amazes me and
really doesn’t make any sense to me at all. But I am quite thankful that he does lavishes it on us day after
day even when we don’t dererve it…especially me.

            “He is jealous for me. Love’s like a hurricane, I am a tree. Bending beneath the weight of His wind and
mercy.” – John Mark McMillian

            I took the picture below a while ago
at the Mlilwane Game Reserve. It doesn’t
exactly have anything to do with my blog, but I thought this could show just a
glimpse at the majesty of our Creator.

-Ascribe
to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.-