True Freedom | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” —1 Peter 2:16
Definitions have always fascinated me. I was the kid who didn’t mind the dictionary assignments in elementary school because I enjoyed looking at the meanings and variations of words.
Now that I’m older and teaching my own kids, I’m learning in a deeper way just how important definitions are. Misunderstandings, arguments and hurt feelings, in some cases, can be cleared up simply through definition. Teaching my kids to craft persuasive conversations, speeches, and essays starts with clearly defining terms.
When it comes to biblical freedom, it’s easy to get our definitions mixed up. We’re so enmeshed with the culture we live in that we don’t realize the extent to which modern definitions shape our understanding of biblical terms.
A modern understanding of personal freedom would be for an individual to have the power to do as they please without hindrance. This modern definition doesn’t quite hit the mark for a gospel understanding of freedom since it omits the biblical assumption that every individual at birth is hindered by an oppressive sinful nature. When we attempt to live our lives free to do as we please, we quickly find it to be impossible.
Instead, we find that we are enslaved to the cravings of our sinful nature. We are incapable of doing as we please when it comes in direct conflict with what our sinful nature pleases. This is terrible news for the woman who is trying to be a good person and live a personally fulfilling life without hurting the people around her.
This is why the gospel is called good news. It frees us from this awful juggling act of trying to be a good person, while at the same time trying to gain lasting happiness while also trying to appease our cravings for immediate comfort and pleasure— all without destroying our love ones in the process.
True freedom is not for us to do as we please, but for us to do as God pleases.
We are no longer bound to live life on a whim, to make decisions based on what mood we’re in or how our day is going. We’re not imprisoned by our selfishness, forced to speak whatever comes to mind in the heat of things. Our actions are not dictated by what seems most pleasurable in the moment, tempting us to veer from God’s purpose.
No! We have a Deliverer who has rescued us from the oppression of sin and the guilt that results from it.
Sister, we are women who trust Jesus, and He has already broken the chains of our enslavement to sin. He has freed us once and for all from sin’s ownership over us. In Him alone, we find the freedom to make choices, speak words and perform actions that fall in line with God’s will and purpose for us.
Apart from the gospel we are powerless to say no to the temptations of our sinful flesh, but Jesus provides the freedom from sin that we desperately long for. This is the definition of freedom that 1 Peter 2 addresses.
The author reminds us that as Christians, we are expected to live not as people who are free to sin but as people who are free from sin. In the context of this passage, he’s addressing a wrongful mentality of early church Christians who thought they did not have to submit to their governing authorities. He agrees that Christians are indeed free from the oppression of human powers, but we are not, however, to misuse this gift of freedom as an excuse for sinful behavior.
It would not please God to disrespect the authorities He has placed over our lives. Nor would it please God for us to indulge our sinful natures in other selfish and worldly ways. We are called to a higher standard.
And we are empowered to walk faithfully in that calling.
As servants of God, and by the power of His Spirit, we are capable of respecting the authorities in our lives and putting to death the selfish desires of our sinful nature. Because we belong to Him, we can walk in the true definition of freedom.
For Your Journal
Find It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.
“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” —1 Peter 2:16
Fix It:
In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:
True freedom is living to please God, not myself.
I am free FROM sin, not TO sin.
Feel It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.
Lord, true freedom is not so much about pleasing myself as it is about pleasing you. Thank you that I’m no longer obligated to satisfy the desires of my sinful nature. You’ve set me free from its power! Help me to speak and act in ways that please you today. Give me strength to say no to temptation and to walk in the freedom you provided for me. Amen.