Freedom 5

Standing in the Freedom of Christ

Part 5

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Galatians 5:1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

                        God is calling us to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds” and to face each day and each tomorrow with optimism because of the hope we have in Him.  "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). The question is, “How do we keep our hearts set on hope rather than despair?”

          Paul’s epistle to the Philippians is often called the “Epistle of Joy.” Paul wrote that epistle while “in bonds in Rome.”  Far from home and under house arrest, he penned Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice.”  Paul rejoiced because he believed in the promises of God.  He rejoiced in the knowledge that his arrest had spurred others to preach the gospel.  He rejoiced because he focused on his relationship with the Lord rather than his situation.  He lived the words that he wrote in Romans 8:38-30, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

          How do we keep our hearts set on hope rather than despair?  We turn, as Paul did, to the promises in the Word of God:  “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) “As he thinks in his heart, so he is.” (Proverbs 23:7) To keep our hearts, we must carefully choose our thoughts.  We must set our minds on the things of God rather than the things of the world.  We must remember that no matter what is happening around us, because of Jesus Christ, we have hope. When we have hope, we can experience joy and rejoice in Him.

          In the King James Bible, “joy” is mentioned 187 times and “rejoice” 240.  Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  When circumstances are difficult, and our current circumstances are difficult, an optimistic mindset and a joyful heart will strengthen us to overcome.

          In Jesus Christ, we have the freedom to be optimistic.  Because of who He is, and who we are in Him, we can forget the things that are behind, allow His grace to make us victorious in Him in spite of our current circumstances and reach forward in expectant hope to the things that are ahead. (Philippians 3:14).

          Remember Romans 8:28:  “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”  Love for God and obedience to Him are the keys to setting our minds on hope rather than despair.