Freedom in Christ
“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.”
When one knows what it’s like to be enslaved, there’s no such thing as taking freedom for granted.
In Texas, where I’m from, Juneteenth is a big celebration. When I moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, I was encouraged to see festivities held here as well. As a family, we like to attend Juneteenth events that range from cookouts in the park with fun and games for the kids, music, and dancing, to motivational speakers, educational forums, and art displayed by local artists.
For those who aren’t familiar with Juneteenth, it’s the day that commemorates the official ending of slavery in Texas on June 19th, 1865, over two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Freedom is powerful. It allows us to speak, act, and live without oppressive restraint. It liberates us from being held captive to a thought, person, place, or burden. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, a proclamation of our freedom was made. In Christ, we are free when we allow him to be the final authority (Matt 28:18) in our lives. We don’t have to fight, work, or compete for his acceptance.
Christ empowers us to let go of any bondage that attempts to enslave us. We no longer walk in legalism, focusing on rules and rituals. Instead, our focus is on our relationship with Christ, which leads us to walk in obedience. When we choose obedience, we exchange the rules of have to for the feeling of want to. We no longer need to try to live up to another person’s expectations to feel accepted because Christ accepts us.
We don’t need to feel pressured to fit culture’s standard of beauty, because He is mesmerized by our beauty. (Psalm 45:11). We no longer live in fear because He advocates for us.
Christ set us free from:
trying to be the perfect single
trying to be the perfect wife
trying to be the perfect mother
trying to be the perfect daughter
looking like we have it all together
obsessing over body image
checking off the boxes on our Christian resume
allowing another person’s negative opinion influence who we truly are and what we’re called to do.
In Christ, we are no longer confined or burdened by those things that attempt to hold us captive. We can stand in freedom, with our arms and our hearts wide open, and embrace it the way Christ embraces us. Join me in celebrating our freedom today by living like we are free, indeed.
Featured as a WhollyLoved.com devotional on Crosswalk.com
Robrenna Redl is a real, raw, no-filters, kind of girl. She went from an army brat to a military veteran. A wife to Troy and mom of two young adults, she has served in women’s, children’s, and middle school ministries. Robrenna is the friend you call to walk alongside you in hard, painful places of life as well as the joyful ones. She is a volunteer for the anti-sex-trafficking organization I’ve Got A Name and an apprentice facilitator for the Trauma Healing Institute. Her passions include mocha coffee, dark chocolate, time with family and friends, and showing God’s love, mercy, and grace to others.
When one knows what it’s like to be enslaved, there’s no such thing as taking freedom for granted.