Devotion

2 Peter 2:19

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity – for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

Do we really understand what freedom means? If I took a poll around your town, how many different answers would I get? “Freedom is when I get to do whatever I want.” “Freedom is not having to answer to anyone.” “Freedom is when I don’t have to follow rules.” “Freedom is being released from bondage.” But are we ever truly free? I don’t get to do “whatever” I want because there are laws in place to prevent me from doing that. I have to answer to the law, my parents, my boss….. I haven’t found a place yet where there are no rules for me to follow. Do we ever get rid of bondage even the bondage of TV, selfishness, arrogance? We are always slaves to something. There is always something that masters us. The first thing we need to do is find out what we are bound to, what do we call master. It could really be the TV. It could be our job, our relationships, a drink, a drug, food, satisfying any of our personal urges, being in control, money, being in the spotlight, always needing to be right, needing control of everything, depression…. The list could go on for 10 pages. Find that master of your life and evaluate if it is a truly good, merciful, and loving master. Does your master love you, desire only the best, do anything for you to protect you, is there for you at ALL times when everyone else abandons you? If you cannot say yes to every one of those, is that really who you want to call master? Find who your master is, evaluate their actions toward you. Then decide if you should stay bound there or find the most desirable and sacrificing master. There are other masters out there. But don’t just jump to another one so that you can brag that you took that leap and changed masters. You could be jumping from the fire into the inferno. Evaluate them all before choosing. Who does love you no matter what? Who guides you through the tough times? Who would die for you? Who already has? Before directing others to a life of your version of freedom, check your freedom barometer. Where does your “freedom” lie?