February,
2002
"Too Much
Freedom?"
FREEDOM!!!!!
I love that word. I love the battle cry of Wallace, the Scottish
hero in the movie Braveheart as played by Mel Gibson. I love the
definition in the dictionary. I think is it a tremendous initiative
of our President as he announced in his State of The Union Address
on January 29, 2002, that he is forming a Freedom Corps that will
enlist volunteers from our nation to aid in maintaining the freedoms
we enjoy in America.
Yes, freedom,
a key spiritual truth in the kingdom of God. But what about this
question - "Too much freedom?" Can there be too much?
Once again as I pondered these things, the Lord has used my daughter
and granddaughter to teach me of kingdom principles.
Cassandra,
like her mother, has been very early in her development. She crawled,
pulled herself up and walked - all before the age of ten months.
She is very curious and inquisitive and as soon as she became
mobile, she found a way to explore our large family room and kitchen.
Cassandra soon learned all the "no-nos" and began the
game of testing one then another, over and over again. Her toys
lost all attraction and I was unable to leave her for even a moment
- to use the bathroom or get something from the kitchen. (I am
sure anyone who has raised a child can relate to this scenario!)
She was becoming a danger to herself and a frustration to me -
especially since I knew that Cassandra played well by herself
at home.
My daughter
wisely suggested that we purchase a play yard. When it arrived,
I experienced a sense of relief. This was soon to be shattered
by the baby's tears that she shed upon being put in "her
prison."
Not to be
one who spoils her granddaughter (ha!), I left her there. She
of course began to play by herself very happily after a short
time. I felt as if she too now had a sense of relief and security
that was provided by the boundaries which I enforced for her sake.
She has learned
to obey more often when she hears "no-no" so she herself
is gaining more freedom to move about the house. So the older
she gets, the less she likes to be in her play yard alone - but
it is still the safest place for her when I am busy.
As I have
contemplated this interesting dynamic of visually seeing the comfort
and peace that has come to her through the security of these boundaries
imposed on her by myself, I have thought many times about my walk
with the Lord. I have seen in my own life that too much freedom
is not always a good thing. It can leave us vulnerable, unfocused,
unsure and insecure.
In reading
what Jesus has to say about freedom in John chapter eight, we
learn that true freedom comes from the Lord as we abide in the
safety of the boundaries He shows us in His word.
To the Jews
who had believed Him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching,
you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and
the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We
are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone.
How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied,
"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs
to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
(John 8:31-36 - NIV)
The word for
free that is used means delivered, liberated; a free man or woman
as in someone who is a citizen not a slave. In other words, we
are no longer a slave to sin, but we are as a free man or woman
who has the rights of citizenship. So, in Christ, we are citizens
of the kingdom of heaven.
Paul explains
this beautifully in Ephesians 2:11-19. You see, because of our
sin, we were separated from Christ and excluded and outlawed as
aliens in the world with no hope. But Christ came, and through
His blood fulfilled the requirements of the law for us. He made
peace with God and reconciled us to God. It is through Him that
we now have access by the Holy Spirit to the Father.
Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with
God's people and members of God's household. (Ephesians 2:19 -
NIV)
So now as
members of God's household - citizens of his Kingdom - we are
free to abide within the ways of that Kingdom as determined by
the Ruler of that Kingdom.
Even though
I too, like my granddaughter, sometimes cry and throw a fit at
the boundaries the Lord imposes on me, I am truly thankful because
I know they are for my good. I am grateful that He knows just
the right times in my life to release me, and just the right times
to rein me in. Actually, my ultimate goal is for Him to not to
have to use any reins on me at all - but only guide me with His
eye. I want to be so obedient and in tune with Him, that I can
truly live out these scriptures from the Psalms.
I [the Lord]
will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will
counsel you with My eye upon you. Be not like the horse or the
mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held
firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.
(Psalm 32:8-9 - Amplified)
Behold, the
Lord's eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship
Him with awe], who wait for him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness,
to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Our
inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and
our Shield. For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have
trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name. Let Your
mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to
our waiting and hoping for You. (Psalm 34:18-22 - Amplified)
Lord, we pray
the same prayer for ourselves. Let Your mercy and loving-kindness
be upon us. We ask Lord, that You teach us your ways. We give
You permission, Lord, to put us in the "play yard,"
to put up the boundaries, to use the bit and bridle if necessary
until we learn of You. Instruct us, Lord and help us to trust
You, rely upon You and obey You so that all it takes is just one
look from You and we will know where to go, what to say, what
to do. Father, help us to have this deep and intimate relationship
with You. We wait upon You, O Lord, for Your are our life. We
praise and worship You. Amen.
In L.O.V.E.
and Freedom,
Patty
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