What Is Freedom? - Spiritual Nugget 93

As of late, our current environment has been dominated by the realities of captivity and freedom.
 
Captivity reflects the universal and ancient practice of forcibly deporting people to a place or land foreign to their current existence. The treatment of captives is often characterized by cruel and barbaric acts. Captivity essentially amputates the freedom, free will, and choice of another. In other words, the captive becomes a prisoner or slave.
 
Although we frequently associate captivity with the activity of humans against humans, captivity frequently involves being held prisoner by personal bondage. Debt, drugs, sex, lust, greed, your mind, girlfriend, boyfriend--even a husband or wife. One more credit card charge, one more feel-good moment, one more puff, and we are captured. We can become so immersed in any one of these activities that we begin to accept them as a natural part of living. We accept our status as bond slaves.
 
Unbelievably, we all have split personalities. That is part of our spiritual inheritance caused by original sin. This trait makes all of us capable of committing heinous acts. Like the 1900s folktale of the Punch and Judy puppet show in which a continuous battle raged between husband and wife, there is a continuous battle raging within our souls which may be compared to captivity versus freedom.
 
God has given each of us a personality that allows freedom of choice. We can choose to live in complete opposition to God’s perfect will and resist His goodness available to our imperfect natures. Sadly, when we make this choice, we deprive ourselves of all His goodness and freedom obtained for us by His son, Jesus Christ. Genuine freedom rests in Him. “Whom the Son has set free, is free indeed.” (John 8:36)
 
Because choosing to remain free in Christ is not always popular, you will face opposition. Courage will be your faithful companion to remain steadfast in your choice. God commanded Joshua to never fear or be worried because He was always there. (Joshua 1:9)
 
As the holidays approach, we should rejoice in the knowledge that we are not bound by captivity, and that no human should control our freedom. Neither should we permit the personal bondages of this three-dimensional world to imprison and enslave us.
 
We can choose to live in freedom, through faith and hope in the greatness of Christ that is within us.
 
MAY YOUR HOLIDAYS OVERFLOW WITH LOVE, JOY AND PEACE!

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