To the Saints in Christ - Ephesians 1:1-2

There is this great line used by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians that reads, “When I was a child, I thought like a child”.

When I was a child, I thought I was invincible. When an idea came into my head, I often acted on it without pursuing wisdom or asking the age-old question, “what could possibly go wrong?” As a result, I spent a lot of time in emergency rooms, and in the process I learned an important life lesson- we all have limitations. We can’t possibly do or have it all, and that is ok.

For instance, when I choose to say yes and put something on my schedule, I am also saying no to any other opportunity that pops up. Perhaps this is why so many of us in our Southern California culture have become reluctant to commit to anything concretely. We love to say, “maybe” or “I’ll try to make it.” The reality is that we are holding that space open in case a better offer comes up.

In our post-modern era, this game plan to keep our options open has bled into many other aspects of life. Many of us expect others to respect our freedoms, and allow us to live our lives any way we see fit. We don’t trust rules, policies, moral absolutes, or any general form of authority that might correct us or tell us we can’t do something. All of this feels oppressive, and stifling to our liberties. Don’t we have an, unalienable right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Tim Keller has a great quote in response to this exact attitude. He says:

“We see…that freedom is not what the culture tells us. Real freedom comes from a strategic loss of some freedoms in order to gain others. It is not the absence of constraints but it is choosing the right constraints and the right freedoms to lose.”

I read that the other day, and it made me think of our new teaching series at church called, Life In Christ. When we choose to live our lives ‘In Christ’, we are choosing not to live in ways inconsistent with Christ. It is a strategic choice to surrender our freedoms and choose to follow Jesus. When we place ourselves under the authority of Jesus, we are trusting that his ways are best and will offer the better rewards.

So let me ask.

What have you given up in order to follow Jesus?

How have you already seen this decision pay off?

What are some next steps that you might take in turning your life completely over to Him?