Posted by James 1:25
“…whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
Designed to Live Freely
God’s Word is the perfect law that gives freedom, and is therefore the law of that governs His creation. Everything in its natural created state is free to go on living, fulfilling its purpose as it was designed.
I love long walks in the woods, and standing on a high place seeing mountains and valleys. Spending time sitting quietly, observing animals in their natural environment refreshes my soul and puts me into a more peaceful state of mind.
My walks along these trails visiting God’s natural created order, enables me to see God and His purpose with great clarity. It’s for this reason I return again and again.
God’s Word Refreshes and Restores
Everything about the created order of things spells freedom. Freedom is in your DNA, you are designed to walk and think together with God. God’s Word has power to set you free from anything.
It enables you to return to the presence of God to be refreshed and regain your bearings when you sense you’ve gotten off track.
The psalmist contemplated God’s perfect law of liberty and wrote; “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).
The word for refreshing in this passage means to “bring back,” “to return,” as well as to “restore” and “refresh”-(see Psalm 23).
As the deer returns to the water brook, you too will return to be refreshed satisfied and restored by God’s perfect Word.
God’s Word Liberates
God’s Word is truth, and is therefore the word of freedom. Jesus stated in John 8:32 that “you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” This “knowing” is an unfolding of the truth that comes by both revelation and experience from walking in it.
In James 1:22-25 the apostle is driving home this very point, that knowing comes by doing those things that have been revealed to you.
Since much experience is gained by practice; it stands to reason that you would be paying very close attention to how you apply God’s written Word (that gives freedom) to your life.
The word “looks intently” in the passage above carries the idea of a person stooping over to get a better look at something. Only something you considered very important would be worthy of your investing the time to examine it more carefully.
If you will make God’s Word a high priority in your life, continually looking into this “perfect law that gives freedom,” James says you will be blessed.
If you take God’s written instructions as your core values, and are committed to practicing them in your daily routines, you will come to understand the truth and that truth will absolutely set you free to walk with God as you are designed to!
The Spirit and The Word
Jesus was anointed to proclaim freedom. Luke 4:18 says; “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:17 that “the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
The Holy Spirit, who inspired the perfect law that brings freedom, is your helper. He will guide you into all truth and He will lead you through the process of walking out the freedom that has been purchased for you by Christ Jesus.
It is faith building to know that cooperating with the Holy Spirit in your daily routines according to God’s perfect Word brings increased freedom into your life.
This is how you live the victorious Christian Life that the New Testament describes.
So look intently into God’s perfect law that brings freedom, keep the Word in your thoughts, talk them over with God.
Speak about them to others, experience increased freedom as you practice them, Live in the liberating power of God’s designed purpose for your life, and Be Encouraged! -JSP