Transforming Freedom

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 CSB)

There is nothing quite like freedom. As many definitions and degrees there may be, people everywhere still know what freedom is and when they have it, or not. Those who have basic freedom love it, and those who do not want it.

Freedom has a couple of caveats, though. For one thing, the concept of an absolute freedom is a pipe dream. It does not really exist among human beings. For freedom to be absolute, we would have to get rid of the rule of law. Personal responsibility would have to be jettisoned. The real concept of freedom in this sense is one of “limited” freedom. You may have free speech, for example, but if you libel or slander someone, it could cost you.

A second caveat is that there are different types of freedom that are unequal in importance or priority. For example, political freedom and economic freedom, though possibly related, represent different realities and priorities for people in different countries.

The greatest of all freedom is the freedom that is personal and spiritual. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” This is a transforming freedom. This kind of freedom causes us to flourish on the personal and spiritual levels. We are set free to grow into the person God has created us to be. This is the kind of freedom that cannot be lost or taken away by others, because it is spiritual in nature and, thus, not “containable.” Trying to take away this freedom would be like trying to stop the wind from blowing. Can’t be done. When other kinds of freedom are limited or lost, this one remains, because it is of the Spirit.

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus leads us to a transforming freedom.

Lord, You are the Creator and the Creator of freedom, and You give us this great gift through Your Spirit who dwells within us. Thank You for setting us free, and thank You for how Your Spirit is transforming us from within. Amen.