Freedom

Galatians 5:13 - “13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.“ (NLT)

The month of July brings us fireworks, cookouts, and swimming pools. We find ourselves indulging in all the pleasures of this life and yet when the month comes to an end, we are still left with all that we are and all that we have. Is it wrong to celebrate our freedom as a citizen of the United States? Not at all! We are honored and privileged to live in the greatest country in the world where we have a freedom that most of the world does not.

Does that mean we should use our freedom to live however we want? When Paul is writing to the church in Galatia they not only are struggling with identifying as followers of Christ, they are also struggling with Paul’s authority as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  In chapter 3 Paul gets to the heart of their problem. The Galatians sought to be justified by the law of Moses. Paul assures them that justification comes to people by faith in Jesus Christ, not by their works under the Law.

Our freedom is never defined but what we have the capacity to do. Our freedom is defined by what we allow ourselves to become. We can choose to live in the United States and abuse all of our freedoms and it may bring us riches, fame, and material possessions, but it will never save our souls. When we choose to begin to live in the freedom of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, we unlock the potential to become all that God desires us to be. The great theologian and professor Maxie Dunnam once wrote, “One, freedom requires discipline; two, freedom requires love; and three, the freedom of Christ sets the stage and provides the power for our becoming all that God intends us to become.”

My prayer for us through the month of July is that we choose freedom in Christ. I pray that we will choose to become all that Jesus intended us to be when He chose to lay down His life to save us. He gave us a purpose, and yet also a freedom to choose. What will you choose this month with your freedom? Service? Study? Loving your neighbor?
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- Pastor Mike