Galatians 5:13-14
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””
Galatians 5:13-14 NIV
Freedom is Something that many hold dear. And many others wish they had. After all, who likes being under the authority of another person? Being told what to do and what not to do. I want to do what I want, when I want, and how I want. In Christ, we are free from earning our righteousness by the law. And we are free to walk in the Spirit. But our freedom gives us a responsibility because our freedom gives us the ability to love God and other people sincerely. You see we cannot love God and others, except that God does this work in us and through us. We can’t love on our own, in the brokenness of humanity. We don’t just have freedom from sin, death, and legalism. We have freedom to live as Christ lived, as a beloved and empowered child of God. We have this freedom because of our access to God through the Holy Spirit. Imagine how glorious life would be if everyone who truly realized they were free in Christ used that freedom to serve someone else? Jesus died to demonstrate and create a new Kingdom culture of loving and sacrificial service. As Jesus followers, we are a freed to serve family. How do we know? Jesus demonstrated His love to His disciples on the night of betrayal by washing their feet, knowing they were about to betray, deny, and abandon Him. He served them knowing that He had all power and was returning to the Father. Jesus prayed for His disciples to be unified in love shortly before He was arrested. He knew the people of the world would discover that the Father had sent Him only if His followers unified in love. When we are set free from sin, death, and hell, we focus our hearts on Jesus and reflect the Lord's glory as we are transformed to be like Him by the power of the Holy Spirit. With Jesus as our Savior, and model, we choose to serve others rather than seeking to be served. Freedom for a follower of Jesus means we are free from worrying about our future, status, and importance. Those are all in God's hands. Because of this freedom, we can choose to love others as Jesus has loved us and serve them as Jesus has served us. This freed to serve lifestyle is how people recognize us as Jesus disciples. This freedom is true freedom. As image-bearers of God, saved and set free, filled with the Holy Spirit, we must still make choices in our freedom, choices for which we will be held accountable!!!
Father thank You for this day and for opening our hearts to the astounding truth of our freedom in Christ. Lord let Your abundant blessings flow from the floodgates of heaven over my friend and family today. Holy Spirit, conform our heart to be like Jesus heart, open our eyes to the ways we can serve others and bless them as they seek to walk in the light of their freedom in You. Lord use my friend to be the touch of Your love that others need today. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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