A Question about Freedom

Asking the right question brings freedom for me.

Freedom. John F. Kennedy defined it in a new way. On that January day in 1961, John F. Kennedy shared his thoughts in his inaugural address. These words resounded across the nation and around the world.

And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.  My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Those words are some of the most quoted words by our 35^th president. The sentiment in those words bring Democrats, Republicans, and Independents together; the divisiveness is gone. When we ask the right question, we become the right people. 

Dying that brings freedom

There was a greater Man Whose sentiments are recorded in scripture. Those words bring Christians together under the name of Jesus.

Jesus said, “If any man wants to come after Me, he must take up his cross daily and follow Me. “ Matt 16:24

It’s not about what He can do for me. It’s not even about motivation for what I can do for Him, but what God can do for others through me.

The right questions about Freedom

When we follow the sentiments of JFK – refusing to make it all about me and instead all about others; when we follow what Jesus said, we find a similarity. It is not about me, but about others or Someone else. There is a greater cause than myself.  My focus must be on Grace instead of adversity. I must be a participant instead of an observer.

God’s army is looking for foot soldiers. His army does not need generals. This is the way we ought to speak, act, relate, and live. Don’t ask and expect others to benefit you. Instead, spend your life benefiting others. Don’t expect your path to be one that is thornless and painless. Instead, expect to carry a cross – every day – to follow Jesus. It’s that simple, and that hard.

The freedom from the Cross

Life is not about me and what others should do for me. It’s about the Cross and what God can do through me. It’s about an eternal benefit: a forever resurrection. 

This world is not about choosing my gain here. Instead, we need to choose between a lake of fire and a mansion in Heaven – and that choice measures the path by which we travel. The only way to get there is through the Cross. That is where true liberty and freedom begins. That is where each one of us claims “freedom for me”.

Credit for all the photos in this post belongs to my friend, Shawn Bailey. She has graciously given me permission to use them. Aren’t they beautiful?!