The Truth part 3
Here's the thing about the truth... it (HE) set you free and made you free. Like 2000 years ago on the cross. When the light of the world shined and revealed God's love for us. Revealed that God IS love TO us. But, even though we ARE free, so many of us still act like we're under bondage. We still act like slaves. Because we don't know the truth. Because we don't know we're free. And because we don't know what it means to BE free. I once heard that one of the reasons God gave the people of Israel the 10 Commandments is so that they could learn how to be people, instead of slaves. Because they had been slaves for over 400 years. They didn't know any different. And guess what: People WILL abuse freedom. They'll take it to extremes. That doesn't mean we shouldn't free people (by telling them the truth that they ARE free). Its not our job to control people. Its our job to be witnesses of God's love. And the only way we can give an eye witness account of God's love... is by being witnesses TO that love. Letting God love us. Believing the truth that God is love and He loves you. Now watch this: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). I can't tell you how important it is that we tell people "I love you." But here's the key with that: Don't do it if you don't mean it. Don't say "I love you" in order to try to get something from someone. That's not love. That's manipulation. Love is never about getting. Because love IS giving. If you're not willing to give someone everything you are and everything you have... then you don't love them. Sorry if that sounds harsh. But this idea of "I love you because I want you" frustrates me. That's not love. Love is laying your life down for your friends. Its not about getting what you want (or need). Its about giving them what THEY want (or need). Seeing a need and meeting it. That's as simple as I can make it. And that's what freedom is. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Freedom. Freedom FROM sin (or the bondage of unbelief) and freedom TO love. To live! To experience Jesus' abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of love as He lives His own life in you, and through you, and as you. But if faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God... if we are to have faith in God, or have faith in love... then we need to hear those three little words. "I love you" IS the Word of God. Jesus. Love. And hearing those words, in the right way, truly will set you free. I know we've all heard the quote, "If you love someone, set them free." But my question is, "Why are you trying to keep someone from BEING free in the first place?" I'm at the point in my life where I'm trying to force anybody to do anything. If you want to be in my life... the door's open. If you don't... I'm not gonna beg. Because if you have to beg for something, even if you get it, its not worth it. And the truth is... you're better than that. You're worth more than that. There is so much in store for you--so much available to you right now--that really you need to focus on just loving people and let everything else be added unto you. Be free. And let everybody else be free too. What's that other quote? "Let freedom reign"? Or maybe its "Let freedom ring." Either way, if you know the truth, it frees you. And when you're free, you can free others. Giving what you've got. Letting what's inside come out. Loving with the love you are loved with!