Aren’t you tired of holding your mask in place? Aren’t you tired of being the one who has to have all the answers? Aren’t you tired of having to keep it all together? You don’t have to hold your mask in place. You are not responsible for having all the answers or keeping it all together. Jesus carries that load.
Where the Holy Spirit is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). You have the freedom to let your mask down and not be the one with all the answers. You can’t be. Only He could earn what you can’t. You have the freedom to be at peace—unveiled before Jesus. You have nothing to hide. You are free in Christ. You are new in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
What is your freedom? You are no longer in bondage to the old person you were. Jesus did not force you to accept Him as your Savior, and He does not force you to live for Him. You choose to live a holy life because Christ loved you so much that He gave His life for you. Don’t put yourself in bondage to self-righteousness by telling yourself that you must earn God’s approval. Holiness is not received by living a holy life. Holiness is received by faith in Jesus alone. Living a holy life is lived by faith in Jesus alone. Holiness is His gift to you (Ephesians 2:8). He earned it. Not you. You have the freedom of choice to live for Him or not. But it is impossible to hold yourself in check with a list of “dos and don’ts.” You never will achieve holiness this way. You can’t fulfill the laws of God. Only Jesus could. Only Jesus in you can.
It is terrible to be working so hard to prove yourself to God that you miss the whole point of grace. It is sad to be free in Christ and not know it. It is frustrating to work at that list of do's and don'ts to keep you out of sin. Sin does not make you fall from grace. Placing yourself under the law keeps you from His grace (Galatians 5:4). God wants you to trust Him. The Holy Spirit is your tutor. Yes, you decide to live a holy life, but only the Holy Spirit accomplishes that work in you. Only Jesus.
Aren’t you tired of the bondage of trying to accomplish in your life what only He can accomplish? Don’t you long to live out of the truth of His love for you? When you have a revelation in your heart of His love for you, you believe God has given you everything you need to live a holy life (2 Peter 1:3). You live His Holiness out of the power His righteousness has given you. You live your life on His terms. Not on your terms. His life is the fullness and freedom of His grace unto good works. Your life without His freedom is the bondage to do good works on your own strength.
Forgiveness births the truth of our freedom in Christ.
Holy Spirit, let the truths we understand become more real to us. And reveal to us the truths we have not understood—the truths that bring forth your life in us. Where you are, we are free of masks. We are free of performance. We are free to be who you say we are. Reveal the truth of the Word to us, Holy Spirit. Truth is not hidden, but it is revealed to us in you, Jesus. We need not remain veiled in your presence, Abba Father. Dare we open our hearts to your revelation, Holy Spirit?
© 2023 Lynn Lacher
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