- Vincent Bujor
True freedom is a paradox
“But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:25
There is probably nothing we’d trade it for. We want the freedom to make our own decisions, pursue our dreams, and express our beliefs.
This weekend, we celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The freedom we enjoy today is an immense privilege, but some of us don’t feel free — some feel trapped.
Trapped by anxiety.
Trapped by comparison.
Trapped by addiction.
Trapped by regret, shame, or pressure from others.
True freedom is actually a paradox for the modern mind.
It doesn’t come from doing whatever we want. James wrote that God’s law is the “perfect law of liberty,” meaning obedience to that law gives us freedom. But how, in the world, can obedience to a set of rules give us freedom?
Well, God’s law isn’t a collection of rules.
It’s a reflection of His character.
It’s the recipe for a happy life.
And it all starts with knowing Christ.
For the sinner, God’s law is a yoke (Romans 8:7). But Christ said that knowing the truth will set us free (John 8:32). Truth is a Person, so only by becoming one with Him can we enjoy freedom.
Let’s make this a little more practical.
Not really. At the end of that road, we’re trapped—trapped by evil consequences, pain, suffering, addictions, and the whole nine yards of mess that comes with selfish decisions. I don’t have to explain it to you; you’ve felt it before. It first feels free, but then it feels pretty ugly.
This is why James calls God’s moral law the law of liberty.
By obeying, we don’t end up in Satan’s trap.
We have a clear conscience.
We live without shame.
We live without constantly defending our choices.
We live without feeling enslaved by our impulses or cravings.
The psalmist says: “I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.” “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors” (Psalm 119:45, 24).
This is obviously a journey, and we might still fall short from time to time. But this weekend, remember that the greatest freedom you can achieve comes from obedience to the words of the One who loves you most.
I can’t tell you how many blessings and joys I’ve received after encountering Christ and choosing to obey His words.
Others wrestle with addiction, but I don’t.
Others can’t sleep at night, but I sleep like a baby.
Others are always pursuing more, but I am content.
Others are afraid, but I enjoy God’s protection.
If you haven’t gone all in for God, I invite you to try it.
It’s a life-changing, liberating experience.
“The youth have an inborn love of liberty; they desire freedom; and they need to understand that these inestimable blessings are to be enjoyed only in obedience to the law of God. This law is the preserver of true freedom and liberty. It points out and prohibits those things that degrade and enslave, and thus to the obedient it affords protection from the power of evil.”
Education, page 291
Share this devotional
Discover more
Craving the blessings of this world
For forty years, unbelief, grumbling, and rebellion kept ancient Israel from entering Canaan. Are the same sins delaying our entry into heavenly Canaan?
Why God doesn’t do more miracles
When I was 10 years old, I stood in front of this big lake, thinking, “God can make me walk on water now! Why doesn’t He do it?”
The power of a surrendered heart
Today, we feel a lot of pressure from the outside. Surrender is more than saying, “Lord, I believe.”
Don’t skip this step in your walk with God
I remember standing at the base of the Burj Khalifa. The foundation really mattered when the tallest skyscraper was built. Do you have a solid foundation?