Scripture: Galatians 5:13-15
Journal: How do you define freedom? What
does the love of God free you from? What
does it free you for? What is your sense
of freedom these days?
Reflection: 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)
How would you define
freedom? What does it look like to be
truly free? How we answer both of those
questions has a whole lot to do with whether or not we will ever experience
true freedom in our lives.
Freedom is not about
personal rights and privileges, it is not a license to be self-consumed. Freedom is about us collectively living the
lives we were intended to live—being the people we were created to be. Loving and serving one another the way we
were intended to love and serve. It is
not about doing whatever we want to do, whenever we want to do it. It is much bigger than that. It is about living a life of love. Freedom is not about being consumed with self,
but about not having to be consumed with self.
It is so easy to be held hostage in the prison of self without even
realizing we are in bondage.
Jesus came to show us a
different way. He came to show us what freedom
really is—and what it is not. True
freedom is about living a life of love.
It says, “I do not need you to tell me who I am and why I am valuable,
therefore I can actually love and serve you without trying to squeeze or
manipulate love out of you." That’s true
freedom.
It is
absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that
you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and
destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love;
that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up
in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true
freedom. (Galatians 5:13-15, The Message)
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: You made us for freedom, Lord Jesus, so help
us to be truly free. Amen.
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