Forgiven and Free

so lately, i've noticed that people (especially me) get completely wrapped up in things we feel we have to do. in our day and age, there are so many obligations. we have to do this many chores, and this much homework, and go to this many practices a week... the list is endless. not only do we have an limitless amount of work to do, but our lives, we feel, are controlled by the expectations others put on us. we have to act this way to be cool, we have to look this way to be accepted, we have to think this or we're going to be wrong....

we also have this ridiculous idea that we have to do some kind of work for God to accept us. we have to help out this person because they're our friend, we have to donate this amount of money to be a good person, we have to go to church or we're not a Christian, we have to, we have to, we have to....

what i've found out (the hard way) is that no amount of "friendship" based on rules or expectations ever fills. the Bible talks a lot about the law and what it's useful for.

"19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. ²⁰ For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." - romans 3:19-20

that's the full extent of the usefulness of rules. they are there to show us how much we're screwing up. if we were doing everything as we were supposed to, we would need no laws to measure up to. so, if a friendship is based on what you do, or following a certain set of codes, then all your acquaintance is based upon is something that can only show you how horrible you are. you can't be built up by that kind of relationship. it's hollow; it has no power in it; it has no love.

the worst part of this misconception is that we try to apply it to God. we seem to feel that we have to do all of these things to please Him, or He won't forgive us. i so often find myself simply going through the motions. as humans we so often think that if we go to church enough, or only listen to a certain kind of music, or say the right things, or hang around the right crowd, that God is going to think something more of us. but God is so much better than that!

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." - romans 5:8

God loved us, the human race, even when we turned from Him, even when we spurned His love, even when we crucified His son on a cross, and even now. God, the creator of the universe, the holy, unstoppable, perfect, all powerful, untouchable being who has complete and utter control over our finite existence... loves us. not only that, but He forgives us! we are free!

"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free."- john 8:36

and God has set us all free! if you want it, it's yours completely! you are free to live without rules, without boundaries, without necessities. you are free to love and be loved by the one who made it all! and if you are in love with Him, you can't help but keep the law, because His love is more than our small spirits can hold. it has to pour out on others! and if we are loving God and loving others, then, according to Jesus:

" ³⁷ Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’^{[e] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[f] 40} The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”" - matthew 22:37-40

you are obeying the law completely! you don't have to do anything! that's the glory of it all! He's done it all for us! we are forgiven, and free from condemnation!

to everyone who's struggling because you feel inadequate, or because others have condemned you, He loves you. nothing you can or can't do will change that. He has always loved you and He always will. rest in His arms.

to everyone who feels like you have to continue following rules or acting a certain way, He didn't make us to live that way. you're made to be more than that. He loves you. nothing you do can make you more or less forgiven. be free in His Holy Spirit.

here are some songs i love that talk about living free:

the first is "going through the motions" by matthew west
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLJF9vaIJ_0

the second is "amazing love" by candi pearson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dooif2-yAoI

"Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him."- 2 corinthians 3:16

"Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you."- galations 5:1

""Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."- (Jesus) matthew 11:28

He loves you no matter what you're going through! God bless!