Devotions with Holly Woodbridge

Freedom and License: A pondering by Holly Woodbridge

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36)

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13, NLT).

Freedom, so simple, yet so complex.

In school this week, Josiah and I spent some time learning about the Constitution and the freedoms offered to us as citizens of the United States. Although the word FREE is the biggest part of this word, our freedom was very costly. It came at a great price for many brave men and women.

As Christians, our freedom came through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Freedom is a rich word, full of meaning and promise. It holds out hope and possibility for many, while humbly acknowledging a staggering debt.

Pope John Paul II said, “"It would be a great tragedy for the entire human family if the United States, which prides itself on its consecration to freedom, were to lose sight of the true meaning of that noble word.”

Worse still, if the church, the body of Christ, were to forget what our freedom is all about.

Cal Thomas said, “Freedom emptied of its real content, more closely fits the meaning of license, which is freedom used with irresponsibility; disregard for rules of personal conduct, licentiousness.”

We are free for a purpose beyond our selves. Believers aren’t free to sin, but free to live holy lives in Christ. True freedom means willingly becoming a slave to Christ, and this happens through relationship with Him

Romans 6:22-23 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Live in that freedom.