Resilient: Powerful Hope in a Dangerous WorldSample

Freedom.

What pictures come to mind when you hear the word freedom? Is it the waving American flag? Is it sitting on a motorcycle, the wind blowing through your hair, flying through the winding mountain roads? Is it a vacation? Or a night with the kids at their grandparents’?

Peter tells us that we are free! Those that are in Christ live in freedom… but to live as servants? And obey our governors? And do such good that it silences the foolish? No, that can’t be right- can it?

This freedom goes beyond our own definition of it. It is better than doing only the things you want to do. It is better than doing nothing at all. It is better than adventures. It is even better than our human rights.

Don’t believe me? Evaluate these questions, and then get back to me. Have you ever felt fulfilled by being alone? Has doing only the things you want to do led you to success? Has breaking the law produced anything other than punishment? Has saying whatever’s on your mind never hurt anyone’s feelings?

If I did only what I wanted, said only what I felt, and spent all my time for myself, I would be lonely, in jail, overweight, with a long list of bridges I’ve burned. Maybe that’s just me, but I’d venture to guess I’m not the only one.

But this freedom is sweeter than the world’s. Romans 6:16-17 says we once were slaves to sin. Slavery to sin looks like the life of the world’s freedom. It feels like you’re shackled to shame. It feels like you’re never enough. It feels like emptiness. But slavery to righteousness feels like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness… freedom! It is the overwhelming confidence that more is stored up for you in heaven than you could ever gather on earth. All this is available to you today.

Reflection Questions

1. Do you associate rules or freedom with Jesus?
2. What could it look like for you to be a slave to righteousness?
3. Have you misused the grace of God by unchanging sin habits?