Freedom To…

“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.” Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

I have three children whom I love dearly.  They are now 23, 19, and 14.  I believe in the scripture where it instructs you to train up your child (Proverbs 22:6).  I did this because I knew they needed structure and because I did not want them to have an early death by my hands.  Please know I am joking with the last part of the previous statement.  They do know that I do not play with them no matter how old they get.  Even though I provided structure, I also gave them freedom too.  They know there are things I will not tolerate. That is what God does for us.  The Bible is what we should use to help structure our lives while giving us freedom in him.

Freedom in God should set us free on so many levels.  Please know when I say that it does not mean that you do whatever you want to do.  It is freedom in knowing that if we do something wrong, God does not turn his back on us.  He will help us get out of whatever we are in.  Let me throw this in here as well.  Us church folk can be something else’s.  They will make it seem like you cannot do anything wrong to get into heaven.  So not true.  Everyone has sin and falls short (Romans 3:23).   

In the Old Testament, God gave us laws.  When God died on the cross for us, freedom happened.  Does that exempt us from the laws in the Old Testament?  No.  What God dying did was give us free will.  We know the difference between right and wrong.  God allows us to choose what is right.

Read the verse above again.  Use your free will to serve God and others.  That looks different for everyone.  We have freedom to either sin or serve.  Choose wisely.