Devotionals

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I was driving down the gravel road, my three year old talking a mile-a-minute in her car seat behind me. We were on our way to drop her off at Pomp-Po’s house, and her excitement level was rising as we passed familiar landmarks. After an arsenal of hugs and kisses and several reminders to make sure she took her medicine, I reversed my path back home. The van echoed with quietness as I drove along the gravel road etched with fencerows on each side. I once again passed the lone black cow, his orange identification tag hanging from his ear. He had decided to risk it all and see if the grass was really greener on the other side of the fence. He had not moved at all since I had first passed it by. It was still casually munching grass, staying close to the fence. It was then that these thoughts began to brew in my mind. Doesn’t he realize his new freedom? Why doesn’t he go explore and check things out? There are pastures of long green grass ahead if he would just get away from that fence.

I wonder how many of us in our Christian walks are still staying close to the fence? We may be moving forward along the fencerow but we are still staying where it is comfortable and familiar. Then there is that other herd of us staying close to the fence because we haven’t quite yet completely surrendered what we left on the other side. Whichever the case, it is time to get away from the fence. God has given you the gift of freedom and there are pastures of long green grass ahead, if you would just take that step of faith.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galations 5:1

Why did Christ die for us? To set us free. Yet some of us are still burdened with a yoke of slavery. Some are still peering through the fence at what they left behind. Inside that fence, you were a slave to Satan’s bidding. When you received Christ into your life you jumped that fence and found yourself drenched in the glorious freedom of your sins being washed away. Yet, some of us still sit and graze ever so close to the fence, nibbling at the destructive sins that were once our demise. You must leave the fence before a yoke of slavery once again burdens you. Stop looking at what you have left behind, and look ahead to the beautiful green pastures God has in store for you.

1st Peter 2:16 says “Live as freemen.” So I question those of you doing the fencerow waltz – Are you living as a free woman, a free man? What is keeping you from moving onto the wide-open pasture ahead? Is it fear and doubts? Is it a lack of trust? Is it a lack of self-worth? What is keeping you from starting that new ministry or listening to that prompting on your heart that you know is from God? What is the lie that Satan is whispering in your ear as a sweet illusion to keep you from realizing your true freedom? Don’t be content with just moving forward along the fencerow, for freedom does not lie there. It lies in the wide-open pastures of faith. It is time my friends to start living as freemen.

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