Redefined.

A few months ago I wrote a post about freedom and grace, looking at the book of Galatians. I wonder what we would be like if we actually walked in that freedom and grace everyday...


We would be joyful in the freedom we're living in.
We would be confident in our identities in Christ.
We would freely walk in grace, showering others with grace.
We would remember and delight in the fact that we're children of God.
We would love others with all our hearts.

I think of Proverbs 31:26, "She walks in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future."

That list goes on. So what holds us back from living in that freedom and grace? I can think of a number of reasons....

We're prone to think with a negative mindset.
We're insecure about how we look and act.
We're afraid of standing out too much, its easier to do what others are doing.
We're afraid of rejection.
We feel ashamed of our sin and transgressions.
We struggle with our identity in Christ.

I think that one issue we have is the fact that our world has redefined certain things. We lost the line between what we are and what we're supposed to be. Somewhere along the way we're forgotten who we are in Christ. At some point we allowed the world to define us.

You can walk in confidence in who you are in Christ without being arrogant.
You can take care of your needs without being selfish.
You can be selfless without being a people pleaser.
You can look on the bright side of things without being naive.
You can be gentle while being strong in Christ.
You can live in the now while looking ahead to eternity.

-

Christ has redefined us.

~ We were once slaves, but now we can be children of God.
Galatians 4:7, "So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir."

~ We were dead in our sin, but now we can be brought back to life.
Ephesians 2:4-5, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!"

~ We were afraid and alone, but now we've been adopted into God's family.
Romans 8:15, " For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ""Abba, Father!""

~ We are sinful, but can become righteousness through Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:21, "He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."


When we realize who we are in Christ we can live freely for Christ. We exist for His glory and for His Name.

I don't want this to come across as a "feel good" post. I want this post to encourage you to live in the freedom Jesus Christ has offered you. It's a daily struggle to live for Him, but it's worth it in the end. It's easy to fall back into slavery, to put on the chains He broke, pick up the burdens He lifted.
Let's live in the freedom and grace He's offered us. Let's bring glory to His name.

Romans 11:36, "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen."