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Recently I’ve been remembering how I used to be concerned that if I ever became a Christian, I’d never have any fun. Christianity limited you so much. The people I knew who called themselves Christians wore long faces, rarely laughed (at least around me), and seemed to live dull, uninteresting, boring lives. I couldn’t imagine ever walking that narrow road. I didn’t want to give up my freedom.
Oh, how wrong I was! The only true freedom is in embracing Christ Jesus with all my spirit, heart, soul, and body. Before I was always feeling guilty for something, real or imagined. Now I know there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). Make mistakes? You betcha. But that’s covered, too, otherwise 1 John 1:9 wouldn’t be in the Bible. I’m free from sickness (Is.53: 5; 1 Peter 2:24), dietary laws or rules (1Cor. 10:25, 26), and the need to get even for wrongs done to me (Romans12:19). I’m free to choose whatever I wish, including to sin, but the beauty is I no longer want to do things which are displeasing to my Lord.
One of the worst things, for me, before I came to Christ was always feeling alone, even with friends and family. I was always on the outside looking in; I just didn’t fit anywhere. Now I am never alone, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. What a promise! No one else can say that. Family and friends die, move away or drift away. They let you down simply because they are human. Jesus has promised He’ll never, under any circumstances, leave us or desert us. Wow! For someone who’s spent the greater part of her life alone or feeling alone, that is one of the greatest promises of the Bible. No matter where I go, what I do, or whom I’m with, Jesus is there with me. Never leave me! He also says that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39). What an awesome God we serve!
The joy in my spirit, heart, and soul only comes from knowing the Lord. There is no joy out in the world. Trust me, I know, I tried to find it everywhere I could. But there is joy in Christ. Just knowing He loves me and has forgiven me gives me joy. To know that I am part of the family of God, that the Father is my Father, that I’m a joint heir with Christ, and that I have eternal life, gives me joy and peace beyond measure. My Father allows no temptation to come to me that is not common to all and better than that, Jesus knew every temptation and showed us how to overcome. Someone does understand - Jesus Christ! What could be better than that?
True freedom; true peace only come through a relationship with Christ Jesus. Joy in life only comes through walking that wonderfully narrow road with Him. Real love only comes through knowing His love first. Peace comes from God Almighty. Hope only comes through faith in the Lord. He wants our burdens, our pain, our sickness, our aloneness, and our temptations. He will remove them, walk us through them, or hold us while we go to the other side of them. He comforts as no human can; He loves as no person can; He gives hope, joy, peace and faith as none other can. All honor and glory do indeed belong to our Lord and Savior who gave so much for us when we were yet sinners!
Cramped style living for Christ? No way! There’s total freedom in loving, serving and living for the Lord. He gives us all we can ever need and fills that terrible hollow, empty place deep in our spirits. He gives us joy, acceptance, hope, peace, love and security. The world can neither give us these things nor take them from us.True freedom is in God!
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