Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we're free at last! -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It seems appropriate for me to write about freedom, my word for 2020, on the day set aside to remember and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I've been thinking about and studying the word "freedom" since my pastor said to me one night at a prayer meeting, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty". (2 Corinthians 3:17) And then he added, "No matter what is going on around you, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty!" I like to read the New Living Translation Bible and it uses the word freedom instead of liberty, so that became my word.
I went straight to my Bible to look up freedom scriptures. Here are just a few of them...
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17
He [God] is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son [Jesus] and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:7
God sent Him [Jesus] to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. Galatians 4;5
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
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:32. 36
Freedom comes with a cost, and choices, and responsibility. As Christians, Jesus sets us free the instant we receive Him into our hearts. Our freedom was bought by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for us. The choice is ours. I chose Jesus when I was 9 years old, but I lived in bondage for many years after.
It was only 5 years ago that I realized that I had learned to live with fear, and I was sick of it! That was just the beginning of my freedom journey. Freedom is a daily choice, and I fight not to return to the "comfort" and familiarity of my captivity habits. I started 2 lists in my journal this year: "freedom from" and "freedom to", and I go back to them often to remind myself and add to them.
I take my freedom and the responsibility that it brings very seriously. Now, it is my turn to help others find freedom by leading the way...speaking God's truth, because THE Truth will set us free. I am not Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but I will declare along with him, "Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!"
