There is a lot of talk about "freedom" these days.. I would now say that freedom in our minds has more to do with "rights.." But there was a time when freedom really mean just that. Free. No holds bar. Ability to go, and move about freely.
I'm going to share with you a little story that may help you see what point I'm trying to make, and I do hope this allows you to gain perspective on true freedom.
"There once a little girl. She was 6 years old. She was born a slave. Her Momma was a slave, and her Daddy was a slave. She was born a slave. She woke up and did what she was ordered to do every day. Once she was in the market with her master's wife. The master's wife was busy looking at things and the little slave girl allowed herself a moment to look around as well. She saw a little girl across the street. Her hair was done in beautiful golden curls. She had a pink dress on and shiny white shoes. She clearly was not a slave. She was free. The little girl who was about 6 as well, sat down on the curb as her mother walked up behind her and handed her a treat. The little slave girl wanted to cry, but she didn't. Her Daddy always told her that she was given way to "survive" in this life, and that she was to to be a slave, and take pride in it. When she went to bed at night that is when she could dream of being "free" but not to waste her time on such thoughts when she could be doing things that mattered.
So the little girl turned her face away from the lovely little "free" girl, and continued on her way. As the years passed and the little girl grew up she became more accustomed to her role as a slave, and she did spend her energy on survival. It was important to survive in this life she would remind herself.
One day, a breathless slave friend ran into her room. "We're free! Cried the other slave girl..." "What do you mean exclaimed the girl...?!" "We free. A law was passed...it's been declared, we're free." And just like that, she was set free. Physically.
But in her mind, she battled with daily the temptation to still consider herself a slave. She still wrestled with the reality that she was really free.
She tried to live life free, but the weight that had been set on her shoulders, the weight of slavery had settled in hard over her in the past 17 years. She was told she was free but she didn't have the slightest idea of how to live free. She got married, had children, but still felt a weight, until one day she was told about a different sort of freedom. She was told that a man 2000 years ago died on a cross for her sins, so she didn't have to bear the weight of the law anymore. She didn't have to worry about doing everything right, and paying the price for the times she didn't. She didn't have to have guilt, shame or fear. She didn't have to be held captive to the idea of something anymore. She could be free from her thoughts that weighed on her like a pile of bricks. She could hold freedom in her hand, and hand someone else her pain, shame and sin.
She thought this sounded like something she would like. So she asked how she could attain this freedom? "It's simple," was the response.
"Tell the one who died for you that you need His saving. Tell Him you need His freedom. Tell Him your a slave until you get what He has for you."
The former slave girl got on her knees. She looked up to heaven. She cried out "Master! Make me free..."
This is the only Master you will ever know who once you become His "slave,," He sets you free. You are His, but you are free for life. He will show you how to daily walk in your freedom..." She was told. No more surviving.
No more living in the cell...with the shackles on her feet.
No more wishing she could feel the freedom people told her she had.
It's time to really be free.
He died.
His life for hers.
No more debt.
No more life shackled to the law of good behavior, and rules. Now she obeyed out of love for the one who set her free. And He would show her each day what this looked like.
The slave girl walked away freer that she had ever been. As she walked away she sang...
"Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...
I once was lost but now I'm found..."
She was freed twice, the second freedom made the first more real. She finally got it. Her heart soared and she praised the one who set her free for good.
The cruel master she served was slavery to death, and sin and living in bondage. Her freedom was Jesus Christ. Her life was in His hands, and she could walk with freedom knowing He did this for her, so she could have freedom. The slave became free, knew freedom not, became a slave to Christ and experienced freedom like she never had before."
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1
"For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:14
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