You and I know Christ brings liberty. He breaks our bondage to sin, condemnation, and fear.
It’s one thing to know about this freedom intellectually. But it’s quite another to experience it as a life-changing reality. So let me ask: Are you really living in the freedom of Christ? Or are you slipping back into slavery?
Let me tell you a story…
One of the happiest moments of my life took place many years ago as I stood on parade in Portsmouth, England— fully decked out in my Royal Marines uniform. Then came the announcement I’d been waiting for: “David Stuart Briscoe, RNI28227, you are now dismissed from His Majesty’s Royal Marines.”
After years of hard military service, I was free at last!
I was sad to say farewell to my comrades. But one person I wasn’t going to miss was the Regimental Sergeant Major. He had an immaculate uniform, a big mouth, and a fearsome reputation. Whenever we saw him, our backs would straighten, we’d tighten up our marching, and we’d wait to be shouted at.
Now, shortly after my dismissal that day, who should I see coming toward me but the Sergeant Major! Instantly, my head sprung up, my back straightened, and I began to march. But then a voice inside me said, “You died to him. You have no further obligation to him. And he has no further dominion over you.”
In that moment, I remembered I was free! And I decided to act like it! My neck relaxed, my back curved, and my hands found their way into my pockets. I scraped my heels as I walked past the Sergeant Major, and I began whistling a tune.
Paul tells us, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
You’re no longer under the mastery of sin, guilt, or fear. So don’t be ruled by them anymore. You are free in Christ!
This month’s special offer is a DVD series by Pete called Alive & Free, designed to help you walk in the Holy Spirit—alive in Christ and free from the trappings of the world. This resource is our thanks for your support—and when you give a gift of $50 or more, you’ll also receive the companion study guide to help you go deeper into God’s Word. Request your copy today!