Welcome to Part 2 of our short series – Be Free! – Check Points To Freedom. Today, we explore helpful check points to freedom. As we begin, here’s a verse about living free.
“It is for freedom Christ has set [you] free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1)
With this incredible promise/command – good check points can help!
Quick Review
First, a quick review of Part 1: Freedom With Perspective.
We said perspective changes you! Also, it helps you manage your –
- Relationships.
- Complicated and difficult situations.
- Health.
- Finances.
- Schedule.
- Basically, whatever you “put your hand to.”
Opposing Perspectives
Further, we explored two opposing perspectives. Incidentally, you choose one of them:
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Agree With God
Agreeing with God is the path of surrender. Living sacrifice. (Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:5) Incidentally, resolve helps you live in His ways each day. Remember, God desires your freedom with perspective.
Jesus said, “In this world, you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” (Jn. 16:33) This means Jesus has overcome every obstacle in your life.
So, agree with God.
-
Don’t Agree With God
If you follow your own ideas and path, you “act out” that you know better than God. Sadly, you believe you’ll not be content until you have what you picture in your mind.
Unfortunately, when you get your own way, you may not like what you end up with. Plus, you often don’t know who you are anymore. Equally, you find yourself at a distance from God. Frankly, you end up with complicated situations and compromised relationships.
So, agree with God.
Two Perspectives
Additionally, we spent time looking at the enemy’s – then Christ’s approach to your life. Strategically, it’s easy to pick a side!
The Enemy’s Approach
Your enemy –
- Hates you completely.
- Constantly tries to deceive you.
- Takes advantage of you when you’re down.
- Bugs and irritates without end.
- Deliberately weaves hurt into your life!
- Casts evil, hurtful, dysfunctional shadows over you.
Of course, it only makes sense – these points severely limit your freedom and perspective. Apparently, that’s one reason your enemy uses them.
Christ’s Approach
However, Jesus –
- Loves you perfectly.
- Always tells you the truth.
- Compassionately lifts you up when down.
- Enables and encourages your spirit with no end.
- Deliberately weaves love, healing, and intervention into your life!
- Casts shadows of second chances, new beginnings, grace, peace, and joy over you.
Shadows from God always transform you into His image. Because He loves you so much, it only makes sense God would employ those tactics.
Summary – Fix Perspective
Finally, we summed up how to fix perspective.
- First, humble yourself.
- Next, ask God for wisdom, help, and strength.
- Then, seek His face always.
- Finally, remember what He’s done.
Check Points To Freedom
So, now let’s explore check points to freedom.
Check points help in every area of life.
- Career.
- Relationships.
- Personal responsibilities.
- Medical health plan.
- Use of technology.
Freedom has check points, too. Spiritual freedom comes from unseen dimensions. Additionally, freedom in Christ is secure. Plus, it helps you live effectively.
At this point, let’s look at the verse we started with.
“It is for freedom Christ has set [you] free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Gal. 5:1)
Easily, you can see two focuses of action in this verse.
- God has done something for you. Remarkably, Jesus bought freedom for you. Undeserved. A gift of love. A sacrifice that cannot be repaid. A debt of love.
- You must keep doing something for yourself. Basically, stand firm! Don’t let yourself get entangled in issues again that put you back into a “yoke” of slavery. Essentially, this is a burden you were never created to bear.
Interestingly, adopting those two focuses means you live in freedom.
Check Points
Since you bear responsibility in freedom, what are check points to freedom?
- Know your enemy.
- Be present in the moment, and be accurate.
- Fully surrender to Christ in daily details.
- Always be flexible.
Let’s explore these check points.
1. Know Your Enemy
If you don’t know who your enemy is, you can easily be deceived, caught off guard, overpowered.
Your enemy attacks your spiritual freedom to –
- Threaten your character.
- Judge you.
- Pull you down.
- Discourage you.
- Keep you ineffective.
- Confuse/trick you.
- Create insecurity.
- Taunt you with loneliness.
- Cause division between believers.
- Tell lies.
- Promote “Two-faced.” (One way to your face and quite another behind your back.)
- Slander, malign, and defame your character.
So, wherever you see these things, stay away!
Overcome The Enemy
Incidentally, God created your original design to help you overcome His (and your) enemy. Subsequently, God intends to keep you free – to –
- Lift you up each day.
- Encourage you.
- Teach you effective tactics.
- Bless your work with clear thinking and productivity.
- Partner with you to protect the freedom Christ paid dearly for you.
Interestingly, the enemy has very predictable tactics as he targets your life. Same-old / same-old approach. Basically, to discourage you and render you helpless.
Contrastingly, God has abundantly creative, strategic tactics to provide you with training and defenses.
- He lifts you up into healthy living.
- Plus, He protects you as you stay “hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)
- You can never guess what He will do next. God is unpredictable – and utterly faithful.
Incidentally, one of your best tactics is to stay away from the enemy as you stay close to Jesus. Additionally, ignore false messages he wants you to believe. Instead, choose Scripture. Finally, never yield to temptation.
Conclusion: Side with God!
2. Be Present In The Moment, And Be Accurate
Consider what you learned in geometry about angles. Deviate just one degree and continue on that trajectory – you get way off course.
Similarly, it’s easy to get off course – even one degree – with God’s principles. Naturally, to stay on course and be accurate, means –
- Be present in the moment.
- Focused.
- Aware.
- Informed.
- In other words, mind your surroundings.
Plus, remember we said – your enemy attacks your spiritual freedom with a long list of predictable tactics.
To be accurate in God’s ways – take in Scripture and live it out. God’s Word gives direction, balance, and power. Use Scripture each day to be present in the moment. Simultaneously, be accurate.
Conclusion: Know Scripture and live free.
3. Fully Surrender To Christ In Daily Details
When you are fully surrendered to Jesus in daily details, you begin to live up to your potential. Additionally, you stay free.
Surrender to God means – everything you think, say, and do will display the character of Jesus. As you do this, His character becomes your own. “. . . offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Rom. 12:1).
Put another way – full surrender to Jesus always gives preference to His way, His agenda, His nature, and His character. All those must become part of you, increasingly, in everything you do each day . . . as you die to self.
Conclusion: Die to self and live for Jesus. Rise up into a life you otherwise never could.
4. Always Be Flexible
Naturally, the name of the game as you live each day is to be flexible. Rarely does a day go exactly as planned. Interestingly, and common knowledge, things that are rigid often break more easily. Consider glass wear, China dishes, the body of a car, windows, and marble structures.
Contrastingly, things that are flexible tend to take more wear and tear. Plus, they don’t break as easily. Consider tires on a car, well-made shoes, rubber kitchen utensils, shrubs around your house, and floor mats.
All Jesus followers are vastly different from one another. Yet, they are unified through one Savior. Consequently, flexibility is needed for partnership. People unwilling to see another perspective often have one – narrow – perspective. They can also break more easily. Additionally, they may break other people.
Thankfully, Jesus is flexible in every way. He is a Master Teacher. Plus, His life provides an example to be creative, open-minded, and accepting. Naturally, Jesus is very flexible.
Conclusion: Be flexible and pliable in God’s hands so you don’t break.
Application Thoughts And Questions
Explore where you need stronger check points concerning –
-
- Know your enemies.
- Be present in the moment, and be accurate.
- Fully surrender to Christ in daily details.
- Always be flexible.
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- What specific check points do you need to work on?
- Are you actively doing your part to protect your freedom in Christ?
- When is the last time you thanked Jesus for doing His part – so you could stay free?
This is the second article in a short series – Be Free! Stay tuned for one more.
- Stay In Freedom (Part 3)
- Freedom With Perspective (Part 1)
* Portions of this content come from my book – More e-Pistles For An i-Generation Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through all Paul’s letters that follow 1 and 2 Corinthians. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.
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