Dear COA Family,

According to the Bible, true freedom is found within boundaries. At first, it sounds strange – aren’t boundaries the very thing that limits freedom? But in reality, boundaries are what make freedom possible.

Think about a fish. A fish is free when it stays in the water. If it jumps out, it dies; exiting the boundary of water leads to its death. Or think of a train. A train is free to move quickly and safely, but only on its tracks. If it derails, it crashes.

It’s the same with our lives. We sometimes think freedom means doing whatever we want, whenever we want. But without God’s moral boundaries, “freedom” often leads to regret, brokenness or even bondage.

Over the past few weeks, my wife and I have been teaching a marriage preparation class to young couples. Our main message is this: You must commit to be faithful to each other because marriage is more than just a paper contract between the both of you. It is sacred in God’s sight. That is why they declare on their wedding day: “I take you as my wife or husband through thick and thin, till death us do part.”

And this message is important because marriages today can easily be ended if any of the spouses “falls out” of love with the other. Their main motivation is this: I have the right to make myself happy. If my spouse cannot please me, I am free to find someone else. There should be no obstacles to what I choose to do.

However, ending a marriage easily does not develop self-giving love, which is true love. Breakdowns in marriages also affect the children deeply. Many children of broken marriages grow up not believing that marriages can be wholesome or beautiful. In addition, divorces are a sure way to poverty for all parties. Hence, freedom without limits in marriage is not always beneficial.

King David says in Psalm 119:45: “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” God’s laws do not trap us, it protects us. It forms the boundaries around our thoughts, actions and behaviours that lead to our wholeness and blessings.

True freedom comes when we live within God’s boundaries. His commands are not burdens; they are tracks for us to flourish on. When we live according to His rules, we are not losing freedom – we are finding it.

God bless,
Revd Ian