Close

How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

Mission Trips

Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world.

1-Year Full-Time Internships

Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries.

Careers

If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals.

Go International

Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact.

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We need you.

Events

Find a Cru event near you.

Explore Your Interests

Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

0

What It Means to Live Free

My nephew and I were sitting on the cement steps outside my parents’ home talking about life – and birthdays.

Cyrus had begun to comprehend what a birthday is and was anxiously awaiting the next day, when family and presents were certain to arrive.

I asked, “Cyrus, how old are you today?”

“Two,” he answered.

“And how old will you be tomorrow?”

“Freee!” he squealed. A wide smile stretched across his freckled face.

“Wow. You are getting so big!” I replied. “How old will you be the next day?”

“Two,” he said matter-of-factly.

Faulty Thinking About Freedom

I find myself applying Cyrus’ faulty line of thinking to my Christian life. I revert to living based on what used to be true about me.

Spiritually speaking, I once was dead. I had no hope. I was enslaved by sin.

But God stepped in. He sent His son, Jesus, to set me free from this kind of slavery. Jesus died on a cross, was buried and then He came back to life. His death was the payment needed to purchase my freedom.

When I placed my faith and trust in what Jesus did, my identity, life and future dramatically changed.

In the Bible, the Book of Ephesians lists many of the good things that are now true for every follower of Jesus, including me. I am:

  • Alive though I was once dead in my sin.
  • Blessed.
  • Chosen.
  • Adopted.
  • Forgiven.
  • Free.

Because of who Jesus is and what He did, I am free.

What True Freedom Is

The benefits of freedom are mine for the taking. But like my nephew Cyrus, I often live in yesterday. Turning back to who I used to be rather than embracing the freedom I have been given in Christ, I revert to living like a slave. I live under rules and burdens and expectations from which Jesus, my Savior, has already set me free.

To experience the freedom that is in front of me, I need a reminder.

In Galatians 5:1 (New International Version), I read, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

As our country turns its attention to freedom this Independence Day, take time to think through the answers to the following questions. They just may unleash a fresh wave of freedom in your heart and life.

  1. What does freedom in Christ look like in my life?
  2. In what ways am I enslaving myself?
  3. What do I do out of habit or tradition to please other people’s ideas of freedom that is counter to the true freedom that I have in Christ?

I told my nephew that day how birthdays really work — that the numbers continue to add as the years go by. They are never taken away.

Tomorrow, I agreed, he would be 3. In time, he would be 4.

His eyes grew wide with wonder. His world shifted, and a different kind of smile emerged on his face.

Next Steps to Freedom: Read “The Forgiveness God Offers.”

Since 1951, Cru has helped individuals who grapple with integrating faith into daily life by offering practical steps and community support. As a result, countless people in over 190 countries have been empowered to move from passive belief to active faith.