Freedom Not an Excuse

“I have the right to do anything,” you say — but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”— but I will not be mastered by anything. – 1 Corinthians 6:12

Wherever a person travels in this world, freedom is valued. As a resident of the United States of America, I recognize that one of the most attractive things about my country is the freedom we enjoy. Yes, I know that some might argue this point from both sides of the political spectrum, but as someone who has traveled widely, I would contend that the USA still leads in this area.

Though I am a citizen of the United States of America, there is an even greater freedom in Christ, a freedom that allows me to willingly submit to His lordship over every aspect of my life. There are no limits to what God would have me accomplish in the Spirit, but under His Lordship, there are absolute boundaries to my life in the "flesh." The controlling factor is not a list of "thou shalt not’s," but rather an intense desire to glorify God by listening to and remaining under the control of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul understood this principle. He had the “right” to do anything, but no “thing” would master him, only Christ Jesus would have that power.

Our freedom is not an excuse to indulge the flesh. It is a tool to magnify the Savior.

We must have a spirit of power towards the enemy, a spirit of love towards men, and a spirit of self-control towards ourselves. – Watchman Nee