“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:36
Independence. Freedom. Liberation.
What images do these words evoke in you?
I know, occasionally, there is often a fear associated with breaking free from social or cultural norms. We cannot, however, allow these stigmas to affect the way we respond to the Bible. 1 John 4:8 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
There is nothing to fear when we rest in the lavish, overwhelming love of God which breaks us free from sin and poor lifestyle habits. Though painful, we should welcome these fractures knowing that Jesus, the Son of a carpenter, knows exactly how to rebuild things. He knows exactly what it takes to change the way our foundations are laid to ensure we are able to become strong temples of the Most High God.
“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
John 8:31-36
We desperately need to seek spiritual freedom through Jesus Christ because sin, naturally, enslaves us all. There is no woman exempt from the snares of sin. The Bible says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Every woman you know has sinned. Don’t let someone’s “Sunday Best” mask truth. There are women in the church who have struggled with sexual immorality, adultery, drug use, alcoholism, eating disorders, anger and more. We all have a past, dark and dirty in the eyes of God, that Jesus came to free.
As we study the concept of freedom during the month of July, I want you to specifically think about how Jesus has freed you. If we are going to LIVE free we have to know where the chains were broken. Yes, there may be scars but, greater than your scars there is FREEDOM. Our greatest testimony can come from identifying and speaking up about how Jesus broke the chains in us. This is the testimony that can help another woman believe Jesus is capable of breaking her free as well!
My prayer is that women, globally, will understand that freedom is available through the blood of Jesus Christ. While some women are still under the oppressive hand of political and social regimes, our Lord Jesus Christ came to free us. All of us. All the time. Forever. For that reason, and SO many more, He is worthy #tobepraised.
