Freedom!

One of the most famous phrases from the Declaration of Independence states that three aspects of man's "unalienable rights" are "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." We were created by God to be free. Freedom refers to the absence of undue restrictions or confinement and the given opportunity to exercise one's rights, powers, and desires. It's about the power of choice. I want to take this month to look at some of the Scriptural references to freedom - especially where it pertains to the freedom we have in and through Jesus Christ. Many of religion's teachings attempt to control, restrict, and restrain individuals from living in the freedom that God intends for his children. As we will discover, God has called us to live in the wonderful freedom that has been purchased for us through the sacrifice of Jesus. That does not mean that we live irresponsibly or without accountability, but that we live in full enjoyment of the spacious place of grace that God desires for us. This should be an interesting month of looking into the Word to discover God's perspective on freedom.