Daily Delight
Freedom is one of the most beautiful -- and one of the most abused -- benefits of following Jesus.
The New Testament tells us that we as Christians are free from both the bondage of sin and from the legalism of the Old Testament law. (Romans 6 ; Galatians 4) In Galatians, Paul reminds believers, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1, ESV). Paul speaks specifically about circumcision in this passage. He reassures believers that as followers of Christ, we are free from “earning” our way to right standing with God through the requirement of the law; instead, we have already been made righteous by Jesus’ death on the cross.
It’s amazing! We’re free! Unfortunately, being human, we often take our freedom too far. We find ourselves excusing behavior that is not “technically” sin. “Well,” we say, “the Bible doesn’t say I can’t.” True, maybe -- but does it serve others? Does it point others to Christ?
Our flesh and the Spirit are in conflict. Our human nature wants to use freedom from the law to serve ourselves. However, Paul implores us not to use our freedoms to satisfy our flesh -- doing whatever we want to do -- but to serve each other in love. When we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit, we are not in slavery to the desires of our flesh any longer.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” -Galatians 5:16 (ESV)
When we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit, we are able to serve others in love.
About the Author
Kirsten Fernandes
