...but God Ministry
  • Home
  • NT in 2023
  • Jesus 365 Daily Devos
    • Jesus 365 Daily Devos
  • Year of Gratitude
  • 30-Day Scripture, Prayer & Gratitude Series
  • Come, Meet Jesus: John Study
  • Resources & Studies
    • Prayers for our Children
    • Seasons
    • Imprint for Teens >
      • Imprint Resources
    • Launch Prayers for our Children >
      • Launch Resources
      • Launch Groups
    • Well Hello
    • Background Images
    • Turn North: A Jesus Girl's Guide to College >
      • Turn North Resources
    • Path to Purpose
    • Colossians
    • Ruth: The Harvest is Coming
    • Worship Playlists
    • Renew Your Mind Studies >
      • God's Truth
    • Psalm 119
    • I See you
  • About
    • Need Prayer?
    • Payments
Purchase Jesus 365

295 of 365 - Restraint in Freedom

10/21/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. Romans 14:1
 
As Christians, we have incredible freedom. This is a big deal to Paul who lived most of his life under the yoke of the Law, striving toward perfection to earn status and salvation. The freedom his encounter with Christ ushered into his life is something he was passionate about proclaiming to all. Our freedom, paid for by the blood of Jesus, is a big deal. It makes Christianity different from any other religion. But our natural inclination is to slip back into slavery and drag others down with us. We stumble and cause others to stumble from two extremes: discouraging or beating others down with legalism, or on the other extreme, enticing others to sin through unwise use of liberty.

Freedom isn’t a long list of dos and don’ts. Freedom is knowing God’s Truth and letting the Spirit give us our own personal convictions that may look different in different seasons, and that are likely different than other Christians because we all have unique weaknesses, varied character work needed, and diverse assignments planned for our lives. Chuck Swindoll sums it up, “live free in Christ and allow others to do the same.”

Swindoll sums up four principles of freedom Paul outlines in Romans 14. First, accepting others is basic to cultivating freedom. Second, refusing to dictate to others allows the Lord freedom to direct their lives. Third, freeing others means we never assume a position we’re not qualified to fill. Fourth, loving others requires us to express our liberty wisely.

Jesus saves us. The Word teaches us. The Spirit convicts us. Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus’s work on the cross is non-negotiable. Loving God and our neighbors are non-negotiable. But God is not a God of lists; He is a God of relationship. Right living comes from right relationship. We must nurture this relationship, get to know God and point others to Him, learn to hear from Him and pray for discernment in our own lives. And allow others space and grace to do the same. Trust that God is good and the Holy Spirit is powerful. It’s not all on our shoulders.
 
Questions: What does freedom in Christ mean to you? Do you feel like you live in freedom or under the constraint of others’ expectations?
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    1 Corinthians
    1 John
    1 Kings
    1 Peter
    1 Samuel
    1 Thessalonians
    1 Timothy
    2 Corinthians
    2 Peter
    2 Samuel
    2 Timothy
    Acts
    Colossians
    Daniel
    Deuteronomy
    Ecclesiastes
    Ephesians
    Esther
    Exodus
    Galatians
    Genesis
    Habakkuk
    Hebrews
    Hosea
    Introduction
    Isaiah
    James
    Jeremiah
    Joel
    John
    Join Us
    Jonah
    Joshua
    Jude
    Judges
    Leviticus
    Luke
    Malachi
    Mark
    Matthew
    Micah
    Numbers
    Philemon
    Philippians
    Proverbs
    Psalm
    Ref: 12 Sons Of Jacob
    Ref: Divided Kingdom
    Ref: OT Timeline
    Ref: Timeline Of Judges
    Revelation
    Romans
    Ruth
    Titus

    Jesus 365 Home

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Devo + Journal Part 1: Old Testament
    Picture
    Devo + Journal Part 2: Gospels
    Picture
    Devo + Journal Part 3: Letters
  • Home
  • NT in 2023
  • Jesus 365 Daily Devos
    • Jesus 365 Daily Devos
  • Year of Gratitude
  • 30-Day Scripture, Prayer & Gratitude Series
  • Come, Meet Jesus: John Study
  • Resources & Studies
    • Prayers for our Children
    • Seasons
    • Imprint for Teens >
      • Imprint Resources
    • Launch Prayers for our Children >
      • Launch Resources
      • Launch Groups
    • Well Hello
    • Background Images
    • Turn North: A Jesus Girl's Guide to College >
      • Turn North Resources
    • Path to Purpose
    • Colossians
    • Ruth: The Harvest is Coming
    • Worship Playlists
    • Renew Your Mind Studies >
      • God's Truth
    • Psalm 119
    • I See you
  • About
    • Need Prayer?
    • Payments