Galatians 5:13

NASB	NLT	VOICE
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for flesh, but serve one another through love.	13 For you have been called to live 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.	13 Brothers and sisters, God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil this gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires; instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love.

Paul is separating the ideas of being free to sin and being free to serve. Freedom to sin is truly no freedom at all. It enslaves us to the teaching and commands of Satan, others, and our own immoral (see yesterday’s devotional) mindset. Christians are not called to obey our sinful mind. We are free to do what God has commanded us, and to glorify him by demonstrating loving service to others.

We are released from the obligation and temptation of serving our self-centered desires. Those desires that tell us to do what’s best for us in spite of the potential consequences. Those beliefs that say everyone is trying to hold you back from being the best version of you. Those mindsets that tell us we need the best stuff, most expensive stuff, highest paying jobs, etc. God created us with free will, a choice to determine whether we should follow God or not. Paul is encouraging the Galatian church to serve. To use their gifts that God gave to them to take care of each other in love. To use them, not to bring them down, but to raise them up.

1 Peter 2:16

NASB	NLT	VOICE
16 Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.	16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.	16 Live as those who are free and not as those who use their freedom as a pretext for evil, but live as God’s servant.

Christians have freedom through Christ. We were released from our chains to sin through his death and sacrifice on the cross. The apostles, though, defined freedom more narrowly than how we will use it. Christians use freedom as a tool to live in great service. It’s the foundation that God gives us to reach our highest potential. God has placed us in our world for a purpose. As we grow and mature through life, surrounding ourselves with people that will help take care of us, encourage us, teach us, and guide us into how to best use our gifts for the purpose he created us with. Sometimes it takes us into our 20s, 30s, or 40s before we get into things properly. We must continue to do the work to figure it out. It can be frustrating, painful, anxious, but worth it in the end. God gives us freedom from the religious rules and eternal guilt (the belief that if we don’t keep ALL the Mosaic laws, we’re going to hell). We must not look to indulge in our own desires, because our inner desires wrestle between what we experience in the world and what we learn from God. Our desires should be reach with what God leads us towards and guides us with. Let this freedom reflect his power, joy, and love. Let his freedom show your accountability to God and be devoted to love and serving his creation.

Next slice of manna: Manna for the Mind #217