Living In Freedom Is A Gift.
July 30, 2020
Living in freedom is a gift! The Well’s latest sermon series, Freedom Reigns, based off the verses, 2 Corinthians 3:17 and Romans 6:15-18, have been enlightening about how to focus on true spiritual freedom. Over the past several weeks, we have examined what it means to live free from offence, free from excuse, and free from self. Sunday, we completed Freedom Reigns with Pastor Selena’s sermon, Free from Comparison. The verses for this influential and relatable topic were 2 Corinthians 10:12-13 with the sermon focus being: “Freedom reigns when we compare where we are with where God wants us to be.” As a 21st-century educator, it is very hard not to compare myself to others. True, it is good to borrow ideas and see methods or resources used by other teachers but stacking my strengths and weaknesses against theirs will only cause me to stumble in my own growth. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” Teddy Roosevelt once quoted, which is echoed in points made my Pastor Selena calling comparison a trap. Often, when I reflect over myself, I see where I’d rather be than praise God for where He has me. I use the wrong standard of measurement when I peek at my peers’ lives through the tainted social media lens. This past month, there has been a teacher trend involving Bible verses that I have seen numerous other educators take part in. After the sixth or seventh post of this trend, I felt a rock inside my gut. Was I supposed to do this? Am I a bad Christian for not wanting to? What will my co-workers and community think if they realize I haven’t joined this trend? Instead of doubting my journey in my chosen profession, I should have been comparing and asking the following: God, do You want me to do this? I praise You, Father, for how You made me; I know I fall short, but Your Holy Spirit completes and strengthens me. Daily, I need to compare myself to where God wants me to be. Comparison to humans is a thief and a trap. The enemy would love nothing more than to imprison us in self-doubt. Comparing ourselves causes us to lose sight of how God fearfully and wonderfully made each person for their own distinguished journey. I wouldn’t want my students to be anything else except themselves and to focus on their own improvements; God desires the same for His children. Centering myself on 2 Corinthians 10:13 is the solution to comparison. Allow the evaluations of others fade, align with His assignment, and strive each day to be more of what He has called you to be, which is free from comparison. #Fam #WellSpoken