Ministry Without Competition 3: Freedom From Condemnation

Freedom from condemnation - this is an attainable goal, y'all! Let's do it! We were never meant to live under condemnation or pressure to perform. God didn’t design ministry to be a checklist: He designed it to flow from a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we really understand that, everything changes — our peace, our purpose, and the way we serve others. Here's the first and second in the "ministry without competition series" if you want to catch up! (But you don't have to - this will stand alone!)

We have a choice - we can live out of our love relationship with Jesus, or we can live out of law. When I live out of relationship, I’m responding to what’s already been freely given. When I live out of law, I feel like I’m striving, trying to earn something from God. (I really really really want to go to the Old Testament right now for a history lesson, but I’ll save it for another day!)

Law says, “I have to.” Love says, “I want to.”

Let’s look at the Word: 

Romans 8:1-2 tells us,

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

That word free is powerful. It’s not partial freedom or even freedom with conditions. It’s complete release from sin, striving, and the constant pressure to perform for God’s approval.

There’s a benefit to the law, we’re not throwing it out altogether. The law shows us what we can’t do on our own. Galatians 3:24 says,

“The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

The law is a starting place, not a destination. It points us to Jesus, who fulfilled the law completely and then invited us into relationship. Once we step into that relationship, the “have to’s” turn into “want to’s.” We’re no longer trying to measure up - we’re resting in the One who already did.

When I live out of law, my walk with God becomes rigid and mechanical. It’s about what I have to do rather than what I get to do. It’s about checking the boxes — read 10 chapters in my Bible: check. Pray for thirty minutes: check. Attend church, check. Serve at the coffee bar at church, check. Then moving on with my day and hoping I’ve done enough to earn a little approval from God. 

But when I live out of relationship, it’s different. Maybe I’ll read 10 chapters in my Bible - maybe I’ll read 1 verse. My heart leans in because I love Him. I want to spend time in His Word. I want to talk to Him in prayer. Maybe I’ll pray for 10 minutes, maybe I’ll pray all day as I’m breathing. I want to serve His people because I know how deeply He loves them, maybe that looks like serving that cup of coffee, but maybe that looks like a hug or prayer for a friend who is discouraged. 

The difference is motivation. The actions might look the same on the outside, but the result is infinitely different! (Are you wondering what this has to do with competition?  Hang with me, friend!)

Freedom From Condemnation, Competition, Bondage

When you’re living out of the law, there’s always a voice of condemnation whispering, You didn’t do enough. You should be better. You should be more like her.

But Romans 8:1 reminds us: there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. None.

Without condemnation, there’s no competition.

Without condemnation, there’s no comparison.

Without condemnation, there’s freedom.

Without condemnation, there’s peace.

When we truly accept that God loves us — right now, as we are — we stop striving to earn His love and start living from it. That’s where freedom begins and competition stops.

Freedom Changes How We See Ourselves

Competition is rooted in insecurity. When I don’t know who I am in Christ, I’ll always feel the need to prove myself:  to God, to others, or even to myself. When I understand that I am fully loved, completely accepted, and totally free in Jesus, I no longer need to compete or compare.

I can celebrate someone else’s success because it doesn’t diminish mine. I can honor another person’s calling without questioning my own. I can rest in my assignment and trust that God is faithful in theirs, too.

Living in freedom means recognizing that God’s kingdom is not a competition — it’s a collaboration. We’re all on the same team, working toward the same goal: glorifying Jesus Christ.

Freedom Changes How We Serve

Serving from law says, I have to do this because it’s my duty.

Serving from relationship says, I get to do this because I love Jesus.

When we serve from freedom, our hearts stay full. Ministry isn’t draining; it’s fulfilling. It’s not about earning favor but about expressing gratitude.

Think about it this way: when a child does chores to earn love, the relationship becomes transactional. When that same child knows they’re already deeply loved, their acts of service come from joy. That’s exactly how our Heavenly Father wants us to live — not trying to earn His love, but responding to it.

That’s the beauty of living in Christ. We serve, give, and lead from a place of fullness, not emptiness.

Freedom Frees Us to Love Others Well, No Fear of Competition

When I’m trapped in law, I’m focused on myself — my performance, my image, my “spiritual report card.” When I live in freedom, I’m focused on others. My eyes are open to the people around me, and I can genuinely celebrate what God is doing in their lives.

Competition fades when love takes center stage in my life to a point where I can walk it out toward myself first and then others. I’m not trying to love Jesus - I’m trying to accept His love for me.  See that little shift there? 

When we walk in freedom, we no longer feel the need to be the best, the first, or the most visible. Instead, we find joy in helping others rise. We can cheer on a sister in ministry without comparing platforms. We can pray for her success without feeling threatened. Because love doesn’t compete, it completes.

Freedom Produces Peace and Fruitfulness

When the weight of performance is lifted, peace settles in. That peace becomes the foundation for true fruitfulness.

Jesus said,

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Notice that fruit doesn’t come from striving — it comes from abiding. The more we rest in Him, the more fruit our lives produce naturally.

Freedom allows us to flourish because we’re not exhausted from trying to prove ourselves. We’re simply connected to the Source, drawing strength, wisdom, and joy from Him.

It’s not about perfection — it’s about connection.

Every morning becomes an opportunity to meet with Jesus, not a task on the to-do list. 

Church becomes a celebration of His goodness, not an obligation to fulfill. 

Ministry becomes an overflow of His love, not a competition to win.

When we live in that kind of freedom, we reflect Jesus more clearly. The world doesn’t need more people who are busy proving their worth — it needs people who are free in Christ and overflowing with His love.

You Have a Choice: Law or Love, Competition or Freedom

Every day, we have a choice:

Will we live in law or in love? Sriving, performing, striving, earning, checking boxes — or resting, abiding, receiving, responding to grace?

One produces exhaustion.

The other produces joy.

One focuses on what we do for God.

The other focuses on what God does in us.

The same actions can come from two completely different places — and only one leads to freedom from competition, freedom from condemnation, freedom.

When we live in that freedom, comparison fades, competition ends, and ministry becomes what it was always meant to be — a reflection of the love of Jesus.

Let’s stop trying to earn what’s already ours. Let’s live from freedom, from relationship, from love.

Because when you live from freedom, you’re finally free to be you.  You are finally free to let others be who they are in Christ as well.  We’re a team - and finding out that the Body of Christ is for you and you are for them?  That’s a treasure!

Let’s continue the conversation on Thursday - join me at my Youtube channel and like/subscribe so we can stay connected!