The Will To Be Free

The Will to Be Free

Hook
Freedom is precious—but freedom always has a price. The real question is not whether you want to be free, but what are you willing to give up to remain free?

Scripture

“So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; thirty thousand Israelite men died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents.”(1 Samuel 4:10 NLT)

And earlier, the Philistines had challenged one another

“On your feet, Philistines! Courage! We’re about to become slaves to the Hebrews, just as they have been slaves to us. Show what you’re made of! Fight for your lives!”(1 Samuel 4:9)

Explanation
The Philistines understood something about freedom: if you do not value it enough to fight for it, you may eventually lose it.

They were willing to fight desperately because they would rather risk their lives than surrender their freedom. They understood that slavery was a price they were unwilling to pay.

There are things in life you want so badly that you are willing to sacrifice for them. But here is the irony: if you lose your life trying to gain something, how will you enjoy what you gained?

For some people, the process becomes the answer. For others, the answer is all that matters. But somewhere along the way, we must stop and ask: What is the real cost of what I am pursuing?

You hear people ask, “Why pray so much? How much prayer do people who are making it really pray?” But if you struggle to obtain something, you may also struggle to maintain it.

The Philistines fought to stay free. And sometimes, our effort to acquire something is only half the battle. The greater battle is having the wisdom and strength to sustain what we have acquired.

Application
Ask yourself:

What is the cost of my freedom? What am I willing to give up to remain free?

Freedom from sin may cost you certain relationships. Freedom from mediocrity may cost you comfort. Freedom to fulfil God's purpose may cost you convenience.

Jesus put it this way:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:25 KJV)

The kingdom principle is strange but powerful: sometimes you have to lose something to find something greater.

Reflection

Would you rather lose yourself trying to preserve yourself, or surrender yourself to God and discover who you were created to be?

The will to live is not merely the desire to preserve your life. It is the strength to sacrifice what must be sacrificed so you can gain what truly matters. 

And when you surrender your life to Christ, you are not losing yourself—you are placing yourself in the hands of the One who can sustain the life you could never sustain by yourself.

Prayer

Lord, give me the courage to fight for the freedom You have given me. Give me wisdom to know what must be surrendered and strength to pay the right price. Help me never to gain something that costs me the very life You gave me. Teach me to lose what I must lose so I can find what truly matters in You. Amen.

Discussion Question

What are you willing to sacrifice to remain free, and how can you make sure that the pursuit of your freedom does not cost you what matters most?

Have a fruitful day.

(Dr.) Emmanuel Okoro

(aka Dr. Lift)

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