Jesus Over ReligionSample

Swapping Rules and Regulations for Fullness and Freedom

“The Bible and society agree on what freedom feels like. In fact, you can even agree, in some ways, on the definition of freedom. If you just simply defined it in terms of how it feels. Freedom is the fulfillment that comes when you’re doing what you most deeply desire.” Timothy Keller 

What is your deepest desire? What is your life’s largest longing? Not the most selfish, quick, and momentary desire, but the deepest, the largest longing? This desire has echoed for hundreds of years. This longing was inscribed upon our hearts by God in Jeremiah 31:33: "That we would know God, and we would be His people." That we would have His law and commandments written on our hearts and watch heaven meet earth when we fully surrender to Him. 

Can we agree that rules and regulations feel restricting? They hold back; they box us in. Not Jesus. He came to set the captives free, to bring freedom, to turn mourning into dancing, to bring joy—everlasting joy! This is the power of our God. He is above all things and before all things (Colossians 1:15-20).

He cannot be boxed in. Nothing can stop Him. Nothing can hold Him back—not even death. Yet, we so easily allow religion to hold us back, to box us in, and keep us from living in the fullness and power of God.

Laws written in and for love do not restrict, but instead, bring freedom and joy through obedience. 

Returning to the story in the garden, would we not choose to return to heaven on earth if our only rule was merely not eating fruit? A world with no pain, no embarrassment, no evil, no tears, but pure, everlasting joy, freedom and fullness? 

The law was never meant to hurt us but to help us. Never meant to restrain us but restore us. True freedom brings heaven to earth once again as we flourish in obedience to the life God has called us to.

Jesus is over religion.