Live Free

2Cor. 5:19

My striving to be accepted of the Lord is over. My work and worry over the judgment of God is done. The necessity of my following the law is fulfilled. Not that the law is done away with, for Jesus did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it in my stead (Matt. 5:17). He came to do that which I could not do. He fulfilled the righteousness which is of the law in order to give it to me, then He fulfilled my penalty for breaking the law so that I would not have to endure it. My salvation, my home in heaven, my escaping of judgment, indeed my judgment is complete and I am free from the bondage of the law.

I am free from that great and terrible day of judgment. I will be judged by Christ one day but that judgment is for the reception of rewards, not punishment. Being made free from the judgment of God, why would allow myself to be brought into the judgment of men? Men don't judge in righteousness as God does (Ps. 9:8, Acts 17:31, Rev. 19:11). Who should I please? By whose hands should I seek to receive rewards? Should I not seek those rewards from the Father of lights and not worry of how any man or woman may judge me? Christ has made me free from that. I do the Gospel of Christ a disservice when I walk to please men. I grieve the Holy Spirit when I bring myself again into bondage (Pr. 29:25).

I am to love my neighbor as I love myself, and boy howdy how do I love myself. I am not to fear my neighbor. I am not to obey my neighbor. I am not to be in bondage to my neighbor. I am to love my neighbor. If my neighbor should judge me it is not to make any difference in how I live. I am not to obey man, but God (Acts 4:19, 5:29). God grant me the grace, mercy, and strength to shake off the judgment of men, whether for good or evil, and stay focused on the prize of the high calling of God in Christ.

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