Daily Devotional

Word of the Day

Free to Obey

We're breeding kids who can't think for themselves, can't make decisions, and have no idea of the responsibility of independence. There is independence from the law, and there is independence within the moral law of God. We must learn to walk in the spirit, make decisions, and work with our own consciences within that parameter of the law of God.

Why do you want to wear a certain style of clothes? Is it because the world wears them and you want to be esteemed in the eyes of men? The issue is not style or cost; the issue is the heart. Why do you drive a Mercedes and not a Chevy? Is it image--you want people to know that you're successful and better than they are? If you're driving a Mercedes because it's a better car and you can afford it, then it's no problem.

For an example, what if we're taking up an offering for Africa? Somebody says, "I had all this money saved up to buy a Mercedes, and God told me to give the money to Africa." Another guy thinks, "What is everybody going to think? I'm going to have to sell this Mercedes, give the money to Africa, and drive a stupid Chevy." So he sells his Mercedes, gives the money to Africa, and drives this "stupid Chevy."

Is your heart right with God? Are you looking to be esteemed in the eyes of God or men? Can you be so free in the Spirit that when everybody else is bringing the offerings you can drive your Mercedes because God didn't tell you to sell it? You're not looking to be esteemed in the eyes of men and you didn't rob anybody to get your Mercedes. How free are you? How free are you to eat or not eat? Paul said you're not better or worse by eating. How liberated are you in the confidence in Jesus' lordship, knowing that whenever He tells you to do something, you do it? That's free indeed, praise God!

Many of us are more fervently involved in our evangelism for the world and carnality than we are for the kingdom of God. We're more interested in promoting our diets, our haircuts, our style of clothes, our conscience and our liberty than we are in promoting people to walk in the spirit and fully extend themselves spiritually. In many ways we pressure people to follow our convictions and compromise theirs. We get them to live the way we're living rather than being totally free and given over to the kingdom of God. Which kingdom are we an evangelist for? Which life are we promoting? In which way are we influencing the lives that are around us? That's the real question of liberty.

Are we still slaves to the secular mind? Are we still bound by the esteem of men? Do our members still control our actions, or are we free indeed? We're free today because of His resurrection power. Our victory, our liberty, is only one decision away. I choose life. I choose the kingdom of light. I choose to die to self. Which kingdom are you most influenced by? Are you more worried about how your children look in the eyes of others than what they are in the eyes of Him that search to and fro? What's the source of all that you choose to do?

Make preparation to exhaust yourself in the kingdom of light, and there'll be no strength to the flesh. Today is your victory. Father, help us to walk in that liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and never again be under the bondage of men and the flesh. That's our hearts' desire, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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