CHOOSING TO FOLLOW CHRIST IS CHOOSING FREEDOM OVER BONDAGE

It is truly a struggle to live in a World full of Chaos and Uncertainty. While the times we are in is our experience and reference point, Mankind has always faced these struggles. History has shown us over and over again that Mankind is not “Kind” to itself. From the time that Adam and Eve left the Garden, it has been a STRUGGLE indeed ! At the core of our Humanity, we have continually wanted to exert Self Control. We deem ourselves to be fully equipped to make our own decisions, and even those who know God and Seek His Ways will often fall into the “ I’VE GOT THIS” Trap. We are currently living in a time period where Selfish People have used personal beliefs to create a morass of DIVISION that I have never experienced in my time and place in the world. Governments produce a wide variety of leaders, but through years of living in a country that prides itself on “opportunity” and “dreaming big”, decisions that seemed prudent and necessary were simply “ignored” or “kicked down the road !” When Important Decisions are Avoided, ALL SUFFER ! Over time, frustration builds, and anger ignites. The Worldly View that sadly is held by many people today believes that Freedom cones from doing whatever one desires, and finding equality by taking from someone else….and it will absolutely FAIL. When everything is taken, and those who strive to succeed are destroyed, all that will be left is CHAOS AND LAWLESSNESS. Take a good hard look around yourself and look at the myriad of belief systems, societal structuring, and spiritual/religious practices that rely on SELF. SELF ENLIGHTENMENT. SELF GOVERNANCE. SELF WILL…AND SELF RELIANCE. The Secular World is full of Cheerleaders telling you how strong you are; how smart you are; how you Deserve what everyone else has; THEY ALSO PROVIDE THE RULES OF PLAY AND THOUGHT THAT TO BE “ON THEIR TEAM, YOU HAD BEST ADHERE TO !” Spiritual Enlightenment will encourage you to “Find Yourself” and Feel The Freedom of being a “part of the Cosmos”….whatever that means. Let your mind seek to be illuminated by whatever brings you Happiness and Pleasure. Take note : Life is not about being Happy…it is about Being Complete In God’s Eyes ! Many Religions have a laundry list of things that will make you “good enough” to achieve Favor with a god or god’s by your own actions. SHOULD WE BE SURPRISED THAT A WORLD WITHOUT THE ONE TRUE GOD AT THE CENTER WOULD EVENTUALLY TEAR ITSELF APART ? IT BEGS A SIMPLE QUESTION : WHAT MAKES A LIFE CENTERED IN AND ON JESUS CHRIST DIFFERENT ? LETS’ TAKE A LOOK :)

BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL ELSE SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU. Matthew 6:33

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE STRAIGHT YOUR PATHS. Proverbs 3: 5-6

DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMEDBY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD, ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT. Romans 12:2

I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME. AND THE LIFE I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. Galatians 2:20

WHAT IS FREEDOM ? Is Freedom really living a Self Driven, Self Absorbed Life, where one does whatever they please, or whatever their Emotions Push Them To ? Is Freedom found in taking things from others just because You Don’t Have Them ? Is Freedom Self Reliance over Wise Choices and Guidance. Is Freedom found in following a set of rules, or a set of man made steps to Enlightenment or Heaven ? Is rejecting God and His Ways prudent and wise when at the core of Every Society there are Boundaries and Laws to honor and Protect the Status Quo ? The protection and differentiation between Right and Wrong….Good and Evil ? IN A WORLD WITHOUT GOD, ALL OF THOSE LINES ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE BLURRED. TURNED UPSIDE DOWN…ON PURPOSE AND WITH INTENTION. SO, WHERE DO WE FIND FREEDOM ??? GLAD YOU ASKED :)

CHOOSING TO GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST AND FOLLOW HIM IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE TO “REAL FREEDOM ! “ There are so many important things to know about Jesus, but foremost is the fact that “While you were still a sinner, He Died For You”, and He died for you so that YOU would not be confined to death and a world apart from Him, but rather put your belief in Him, die to your old self, and become a NEW PERSON IN HIM AND HIS GRACE. All the lousy things you have done, mistakes made, bad thoughts,….all FORGIVEN by Him taking on the Consequences In Your Place. Death On A Cross. No effort on your own, other than giving your Life to Him. SALVATION ! I’m Saved….NOW WHAT ? TIME TO FOLLOW HIM AND WALK IN HIS WAYS ! IMMERSE YOURSELF AND YOUR LIFE TO “BE LIKE HIM” ! You will stumble; you will struggle; you will fall backward; BUT with HIM BESIDE YOU, you will STRIVE to Repent and Move Forward. IT IS NOT ABOUT BEING PERFECT OR ACHIEVING ON YOUR OWN….IT IS ASKING FOR HIS WILL, PATH, AND PURPOSE TO SHAPE AND GUIDE YOUR LIFE EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY. Trusting In Him, not Yourself. When Jesus was asked “ What are the most important commandments of God, His answer tells us everything. LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. Seems simple, but in our World it is not. Jesus showed everyone that Loving God was fullfilling His Commandments as a template for How To Live and Prosper in God’s Will. His Will, not Ours ! Loving Others as Ourselves centers also on Sharing and Doing things the way God Does ! TRUE LOVE IS NOT ACCEPTING SINFUL BEHAVIOR, LET ALONE IGNORING IT ! GOD IS A LOVING AND MERCIFUL GOD, BUT HE IS ALSO JUST AND RIGHTEOUS. Real Love for others often requires guidance and path adjustment. Helping Someone reach Higher and Pushing Them Forward and Upward rather than providing temporary comfort where they are without CHANGE ! The World is full of Leaders who Miss The Mark. JESUS OFFERS TRANSFORMATION, not Temporary Relief or Excuses. SO, will it be True Freedom in Christ…or Faalse Freedom leading to Bondage following a Worldly Template ?

NOW THE LORD IS THE SPIRIT, AND WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS FREEDOM. 2 Corinthians 3:17

THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRISTJESUS. FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE HAS SET YOU FREE IN CHRIST JESUS FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. FOR GOD HAS DONE WHAT THE LAW, WEAKENED BY THE FLESH, COULD NOT DO. BY SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESHAND FOR SIN, HE CONDEMNEDSIN IN THE FLESH, IN ORDER THAT THE RIGHTEOUSREQUIREMENT OF THE LAWMIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOR ACCORDING TO THE FLESH BUT ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. Romans 8: 1-4

LIVE AS PEOPLE WHO ARE FREE, NOT USING YOUR FREEDOM AS A COVER-UP FOR EVIL, BUT LIVING AS SERVANTS OF GOD. 1 Peter 2:16

Our lives should focus on our Spiritual Life In Jesus Christ. We are FREE IN HIM. Our fleshly life is truly where our battles take place, In our flesh, we are weak and tempted. Do you see how the religions and spiritual journeys that try to work things out by self effort FAIL EVERY TIME ? They follow rules instead of investing in Relationships . They set Fleshly Pleasures and Achievements that foment Evil behavior and Laws. THEY ARE ALL JUST A DIFFERENT FLAVOR OF BONDAGE ! Christianity is the Only Religion that has GOD coming to Us to forge Relationship and Grace, through no Efforts of our own….just God’s Love and Mercy by Faith, Trust, and Belief. JESUS CHRIST IS YOUR TRUE CHOICE FOR FREEDOM. NOT THE WORLD, NOT MAN MADE RELIGIONS, AND NOT SELF RELIANCE. May you find Peace and Freedom in Him. Call out to Him. Ask Him to show Himself to You. Read His Word and PRAY. He will see you and hear you ! COUNT ON HIM TO SET YOU FREE ! HIS LOVE IS EVERYTHING/JAA

FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. Ephesians 2:8