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Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Freedom and Liberty {Galatians 5}

by Lisa Thayer

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  v. 1

Can you get past this verse?  I have read it over and over.  What more do you need to hear? 

Here in the West, freedom is the highest virtue and it is sought after by anyone who considers themselves oppressed.  Our freedom in Christ does not give us a license to do whatever we want however.  Romans 6 tells us that no one is free.  We are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness.  Those who are slaves to sin cannot free themselves from it, but once we are freed from the penalty and power of sin through the cross, we become a different kind of slave, and in that slavery we find complete peace and true freedom.

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Jesus said in Luke 7:47, “Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – as her great love has shown.  But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Overflowing love is the natural response to forgiveness and the appropriate result of faith.  But only those who realize the depths of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness that God offers them.  Why would anyone return to the bondage of the law?  Well, we are rebellious.  We refuse to obey God and cling to our old selves.  We hold on to the sins that once bound us to Satan.  Because our new nature still lives in the old fleshly nature, we are still drawn to sin.  It may be harsh when Paul swears at the people preaching circumcision, but sometimes we have to take a stand for the truth.  Jesus told us in John 15:18-19 that the world may hate you for faithfully proclaiming the message – in spite of the obstacles others may put in our way.

Paul reminds us in verses 13-14 that we are called to be free!  By serving one another, humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command.  “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  When we lose our motivation to love, we become critical of others.  We stop looking for the good in them and only see their faults.  And soon, we lose our unity. 

We all have evil desires.  I know I’d rather not have them, but I can’t ignore them.  In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit, we have to deal with these destructive desires.  We must crucify them.  Some of these desires are obvious sins such as sexual immorality and witchcraft.  But they also include less obvious sins such as selfish ambition, hatred and jealousy.  Those of us who refuse to deal with such sins, reveal we have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life.

Do you desire to have the qualities listed in verses 22-23?  If you do, then you know the Holy Spirit is leading you.  Being led by the Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings.  The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ.  They are the by-products of Christ’s control.  We cannot obtain them by trying to get them without His help. 

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 God is interested in every part of our lives, not just the spiritual part.  As we live by the Holy Spirit’s power, we need to submit every aspect of our lives to God – emotional, physical, social, intellectual and vocational.  Paul says that because we are saved, we should live like it!  The Holy Spirit is the source of your new life, so keep in step with his leading.  Don’t let anything or anyone else determine your values and standards in any area of your life.  I heard it described like the two rails on railroad track.  The train cannot move properly unless both rails are in use.  You are on one side and the Holy Spirit is on the other moving your life forward.  And when you are concentrating on keeping your train on both tracks, you won’t need the approval of others.  We are heirs to the King of Kings and we have the Holy Spirit as the loving guarantee of God’s approval.  Seek to please God and the approval of others won’t seem so important.

Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit.  Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires.