"Looking for Lovely"

“Now, the ‘Lord’ I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom.” 2 Cor. 3:17, TPT

By far, this is my favorite translation/paraphrase of this verse. It is my favorite because of the commentary that is given to explain the connection between Lord and Holy Spirit.

Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-17.

Regardless of the translation you read from, you can clearly see that Paul is contrasting the Old Testament path to freedom with the new. Remember, Old Testament Jews were bound to the Law, and it was the proof of their salvation. In fact, as crazy as it sounds, the Law was their freedom. God had rescued them from literal slavery, called them His own, and then set them on a path to remain free. They could do that by following His Law. There’s nothing about Law that seems freeing to us, but to Jews who’d heard the story of God’s rescue in Egypt, in the wilderness, and from captivity in Babylon, the Law was freedom.

Jesus shared a new way. The Gospels are filled with that message, and I love reading them. Paul missed out on that message, though. He was part of the Pharisees when Jesus walked the Earth. Jesus wasn’t his Lord. The Law was, so he adamantly and persistently refused to turn from the Law to a new kind of freedom, a better freedom, the only true freedom.

Please read this message from the author of The Passion Translation,

“Paul is teaching us that not every time the word Lord appears does it mean Jesus Christ. Here we see that ‘the Lord’ refers to the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit is ruling, speaking, convincing us of truth, there is freedom.”

In the chapter yesterday, Annie shared so many changes concerning her exercise. She played sports growing up. She tried a variety of different things after that. Zumba showed up during her weight loss competition in Nashville. Then, b.fab.fitness. It’s all been meaningful to her. And, she’s always felt God in the exercise she chooses to do.

No rules.

No set way of exercising.

No definitions around the kind of movement or who participates.

Freedom!

I hope this is all settling with you as powerfully as it is settling with me. Exercise is the background theme of this chapter. But, the foundational theme is one that has been woven throughout this book. The lovely we are looking for is freedom. And that freedom can be seen in a sunrise, in seeds, and in sushi. It can be heard in music. It can be experienced in perseverance, in painting our nails and in exercise. There aren’t rules around it. The Person of Jesus Christ doesn’t have to live among us to protect it. He sent His Spirit to live inside of us. When we choose to listen to that voice and let it rule over all that we do, we are free!

There’s nothing more lovely.

I pray you enjoy your freedom today. Put your tennis shoes on and move in a new and free way. Experience God there.

It is through Him that we live and function and have our identity. Acts 17:28, TPT

God, You’ve always been for our freedom. Help us to follow the Spirit’s leading and experience that freedom completely. Give us the courage to lead others to You simply by living in the fullness of lovely. Amen.