Freedom!

I've been thinking quite a bit the past couple of days about freedom. To be completely truthful, it has been something that I have been mulling over for a couple of months, but over the past couple of days it has been strong on my heart. It is something that we, as Americans, take for granted so often. It is the subject of freedom.

I believe that we really have very little concept of what true freedom is in our lives. We tend to live under the shadow of obligations, responsibilities, and requirements. Too often we lose perspective on why we really do all the things we do on a daily basis. We forget that we are free.

I am not simply discussing with you the freedom that we enjoy here in this country. The freedoms to which I refer run deeper, much deeper than those. We are freed by the love of our Father. We are freed by the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross.

I know a lot of times we focus on the sin aspect of this freedom - we are freed from the slavery that sin places upon us (see John 8:34-35). And that is most certainly a truth that I treasure. However, most of the time we stop there. We think, "Whew! I'm free from sin," but we never take that next step in the relationship process with Father.

We forget to remember that because we are free from that sin, we are also free to partake in a rich, deep, unfathomable relationship with the Creator of the universe. We fail to take advantage of the freedoms that are available to us. We neglect the opportunity to commune with our Father. No, that sounds too "religious" to say it that way.

What I mean to say is this: Stop, and think about it just for a moment. You have the ear of God, the one and only God. Not only that, He wants to spend time with you - not in some "run down a shopping list of prayer needs" kind of way, but in a real, honest dialogue. He cares about what you have to say. He wants to speak to you. Man, I feel like I'm really not getting this across strongly enough. God, please help me to convey Your truth.

This whole thing is not about religion it is about relationship. It is about knowing - Father knowing you and you knowing Father. It is not and never has been about a list of rules. You can go to a building to worship every Sunday, you can pray every morning or every night, you can take Communion, you can read your Bible, but you still may never know your Father. Oh, you may know something about Him, but you will not know Him. Just like you can read this blog, sit next to me in a service, hear me preach or lead worship and never know me. You may have some information about me, but in order to know me, you must have a relationship with me.

That, my friends, is the purpose of the Law, the purpose of Christ's crucifixion, the purpose of scripture. Relationship, it all boils down to that. We are free to have relationship with Him. I pray that you can really grasp that concept. If you do, it will revolutionize your walk with Father.

Until next time, grace and freedom to you!