1 Corinthians 6:12 AMPC
[12] Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power.
As a recovering control freak, I always believed that I knew what was best for my life. I planned my future with intricate details and made sure I kept a backup plan handy, as well as a backup to the backup plan, just in case things went awry. I never trusted anyone with myself, not even God. If I couldn’t work it out on my own, I assumed that it just wasn’t for me. I was so against being controlled, or so I thought, that I allowed my sin to control me without even being aware of what was happening. I may have believed I was making decisions based on my own desires, but I was allowing social media, friendships and other ungodly connections influence who I was and what I wanted. I allowed just about anything and anyone to give input on my life, except God.
One flaw I notice within myself is pride. Pride drives disobedience. I couldn’t admit that I was wrong in most areas, and that my life did not align with the will of God because I didn’t want to be at fault for the way my life turned out. My main issue with consistently living a Christian lifestyle has been submission. Submission is defined as an act of submitting [to yield or surrender] to the authority [power] or control [rule] of another (Merriam-Webster 2025). I didn’t realize this before, but the idea of being put back in a child’s place was wildly unattractive to me, and I think that’s what turned me off most about living saved. I did not want to listen to God or anyone else. I wanted to do my own thing, follow my own will, and live my life the way I thought was suitable for me. However, the thing about following my own desires is that they aren’t so much my own as they are my flesh, which is prone to sin. If we aren’t being led by God, we’re being led by the enemy. There is nothing in-between.
When God is not in control, we lose focus of our destiny, our priorities become misguided, and our decisions take us further and further away from where we’re supposed to be. I have wasted time and money, damaged relationships, lost opportunities, and picked up habits I never would have learned in the first place had I submitted to God. I can’t possibly know what’s best for my future because I’ve never been there and I have no idea what’s to come, but God does. God is God because He is sovereign [supreme, absolute, unmitigated]. God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent meaning He has unlimited power and authority, He has infinite awareness, understanding, and insight, and He is present in all places at all times (Merriam-Webster, 2025). The only right choice I can make on my own is to follow God.
The enemy is using social media to take our eyes off of God and rob us of our purpose. We are being influenced by people who are also being influenced by people and forces which we have no awareness of. No one is in control of their own life in the way that they think they are. Yes, we have free will to choose which path we will take, but there are only two choices: Life or death. Deuteronomy 30:19 in the Amplified Classic version says, [19] I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live. The life-giving power of God produces freedom. Social media has convinced us that freedom is being able to do whatever we want without limits or boundaries. However, the boundaries set by God protect us from hurt, harm, and danger. The “freedom” that we think we have outside of God by doing our own thing is an illusion because we are actually living as slaves to sin. Freedom is defined as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action (Merriam-Webster, 2025). When I was refusing to submit to God because I wanted to live “freely”, I was abusing substances, practicing sexual immorality, harming my body, wasting my resources, and leading others astray. I was also severely depressed and anxious with very low self-esteem. But this was freedom, right? Wrong. It is impossible to be outside of the will of God and truly live free. Surrendering to God is the only path to freedom.
When we are disconnected from God, we are captive to sin. It’s a trick of the enemy to make us believe that living for God is a boring or restrictive lifestyle. If we really stop and think about it, everything that God asks of us helps us become healthy, whole, well-rounded, peaceful, positive, safe, and productive individuals. Let’s take a look at the Ten Commandments, for example, which can be found in Exodus 20:
- Do not have other gods before (outside of) God.
- Do not make (serve, worship or bow down to) idols.
- Do not use the Lord’s name in vain (lightly or frivilously, in false affirmations or profanely).
- Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy (withdrawn from regular activities and dedicated to God, set apart for His purposes).
- Honor (to regard or treat with admiration and respect) your father and mother.
- Do not commit murder.
- Do not commit adultery (voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than that person’s current spouse).
- Do not steal.
- Do not bear false witness (lie) against your neighbor.
- Do not covet (to feel unreasonable desire for what belongs to another).
I know what you’re probably thinking… “That’s the Old Testament, does that really even apply to us anymore?” It absolutely does, and here’s how: Jesus came so that we could have fellowship with God without being slaves to the law. However, He did not come to abandon the law altogether. Do any of these commands harm us? No. Are any of these commands unreasonable or impossible to submit to? No. So, why do we push so hard to emphasize our right to break them? *crickets* I’ll wait. The Ten Commandments were set by God to protect the people of Israel from their sinful nature and establish a foundation for their relationship with God. Jesus came so that when we sinned against God by breaking His commandments, we would be able to repent and receive His forgiveness, rather than be subjected to death and separation from God lest we offer a ritualistic sacrifice. John 14:15 AMPC says, [15] If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. God gives us boundaries by way of His commands because He loves us, and if we say we love Him, we must be faithful to doing what He instructs us to do. Following God’s commands will only ever lead to a good life because His commands were meant to bless us. Living holy does not prevent us from having fun. The things that the world calls fun, but goes against God’s commands, will only ever lead to negative consequences, including physical and spiritual death.
Too often we are willing to compromise our beliefs in order to fit in and subscribe to the ways and conditions of our environment, but we aren’t willing to commit to holiness (complete devotion to righteousness, or right-standing, with God) because of our fear of missing out. However, our commitment to disobedience does not change the word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMPC says, [16] Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action), [17] So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work. ALL scripture is inspired by God, not just the New Testament, but the Old and the New. The Old Testament is equally beneficial in instructing us on what to do and how to live. We cannot get caught up in this culture that glorifies doing whatever we feel is right, primarily because our feelings are subject to change. We must follow God’s word, not just the parts that we like or the things that seem easy to do, but all of His word.
Hebrews 4:12 AMPC says, [12] For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. When we decide to follow the will of God for our lives and live the way He has instructed us to live, we experience true freedom. That is, a life unbound to sin. By submitting to God, we make room for the One who created us to shape our lives and use us for His glory. Why should we want to be used by God? Because that is our ultimate purpose. There is nothing we should want more than to be in the center of God’s perfect will for our lives. There, and only there, will we find freedom.
Romans 6:15, 20-23 AMPC [15] What then [are we to conclude]? Shall we sin because we live not under Law but under God's favor and mercy? Certainly not! [20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [21] But then what benefit (return) did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? [None] for the end of those things is death. [22] But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. [23] For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.
