Have you asked yourself lately, what does God want for me more than anything else in this world? It would be good to ponder that question, and your answer, for a moment.
I would like to suggest to you that, more than anything else that he possibly could give to you, he wants you to have freedom. That’s right, freedom; the father wants you to be free. Before giving you our thoughts, look at a few Scriptures:
(1) “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” – John 8:32.
(2) “So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed” – John 8:36.
(3) “(In hope) that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God” – Rom. 8:21.
(4) “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” – Rev. 1:5
There are three types of freedom that God wants you to have and keep hold of: the freedom of sin, the freedom of choice, and the freedom of service. Without a doubt, the greatest freedom an individual can possess is freedom from sin. This is first and foremost. There is great joy in being unshackled from sin and its penalties – past, present and future. The beloved disciple of Jesus Christ declared at first sight of the Savior, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The elder apostle further stated, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (I John 2:2).
The second type of freedom that God wants you to have is the freedom of choice. There is much to say about this type of freedom, but suffice it to say that freedom of choice is more than having an opportunity to choose between options. Awareness of available options is one thing. But one must be aware of the consequences of those choices – before they are truly free to make the right choice. Too many times a choice is made only to regret the consequences thereof later. The freedom to choose requires more than awareness; it requires understanding and direction.
The third kind of freedom that God wants you to have is the freedom of service. This is a very critical aspect of freedom to appreciate and understand as well. As children of God, we are stewards over the affairs of God. Author Scott Rodin in “The Steward Leader: Transforming People, Organizations and Communities” (2010), claims that steward leaders are free people. He says, “The goal of the steward leader must be to go to bed every night with a clear conscience and a right heart before God. God asks only one thing of steward leaders: that we seek with all our hearts to know his will and respond obediently and joyfully.” (p. 23).
Melvin Woodard III is senior pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. Write to him at: New Salem MBC, 3315 W. 56th St., Indianapolis, Ind. 46228.
