Freedom!

Driving down I540, 70 miles an hour, windows rolled down, hair blowing in the wind and Newsboys "Something Beautiful" blasting on the radio. In that moment I felt more freedom than I have in a long time. I felt completely loved and overwhelmed with God' goodness and mercy. Of how he has called me by name to be his own. Of how even though I am dark and weak He calls me lovely and gives me the strength to go on. There is something truly beautiful and freeing in this revelation.

When we come to realize that to truly know Jesus has nothing to do with rules an regulations and everything to do with passionate love that is when we find freedom. Yes, the Bible does lay out guidelines and most of them are pretty black and white. But God didn't say those things so that we would be slaves to them, He laid them out so that we could have freedom. It is a strange concept to understand at first but I think of it this way, I have rules in my classroom so that everyone can enjoy music and learn. They have freedom in my classroom to choose what they want to do inside of the boundaries set for them. If everyone did what ever they wanted and ignored the boundaries in my classroom everyday would be utter chaos. The utter chaos happens sometimes anyway because people choose not to follow the rules laid out in my classroom and then no one has any fun. In the same way God sat out His rules not that we should miss out on all the fun, but so that we can enjoy life to the fullest. So that the chaos and confusion are kept at bay. Yet we choose to disobey those rules sometimes and chaos is soon to follow.

True freedom lies with in the boundaries set by God Himself!

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
"If tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in a family but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed."
John 8:31-32, 34-36