"It was for freedom that Christ set us free!"

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Scripture

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
(Galatians 5:1 NASB)
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
(Galatians 5:13 NASB)
For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
(Galatians 5:14 NASB)
But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
(Galatians 5:15 NASB)

 

Observation


Freedom -- it's a word we all throw around but that may have a different meaning for each and every one of us. The freedom that the Apostle Paul was talking about was something that would change the world. It had nothing to do with political freedom. For Christians, political freedom would come and go throughout the centuries, but this freedom, this freedom in Christ was eternal and could reach far beyond the boundaries created by human beings. This freedom which came from Christ was to be lived out on a daily basis by way of loving service to one another. The temptation was to go back to the Law and to try and find freedom there. However, the only freedom to be found there required trying to live out a list of rules in the flesh. This was not the answer. The ultimate answer Paul tells us is that freedom gives us the choice to love our neighbor. He didn't say that it depended on who our neighbor was, or how they acted or what their views on life might be. Paul simply said that we are to love our neighbor. The opposite of this freedom was found in behaviors that led to the destruction of the neighbor, and ultimately to the destruction of self.

 

Application


Christ is the giver of freedom. He has set us free! We are not bound by the things of this world -- we are only bound to him. May we seek after him and God's answers on a daily basis. May we seek after the good of our neighbor on a daily basis. May we be a channel for God's love to flow out to a needy world every single day and may we rejoice in the freedom which we have received from Christ alone!

 

Prayer


Lord, thank you for all you have done for me. Sometimes I take it for granted or I look for solutions in other places. I am so grateful for who you are. Amen.

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