Friday, November 28, 2008

Freedom!

As I sit in my room on a late Friday night trying to prepare for next week's Bible study on freedom in Christ, I am a bit confused about where to begin. In church, we always hear about how freedom is found through Christ alone, but what does that really mean and how are we supposed to live this out?

To be honest, whenever I used to hear the words "freedom in Christ," I just imagined that as a sort of spiritual high or a euphoric state, like butterflies on a first date, except I guess the butterflies are supposed to last much longer since God is involved. However, as I began to dig deeper in the Scriptures, I'm beginning to see that freedom in Christ is actually more of a steady, unyielding discipline to serve which flows naturally from the grace He's poured into us.

In other words, God gives us freedom from the bondage of sin so that we can have freedom to serve Him joyfully.

13 For you have been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. 16 So I advise you to live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves.
Galatians 5:13-16