Listen to Devotion

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. . . You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Are you feeling free today?

We value our freedom in America, although often we don’t fully understand it. People complain about the loss of freedom as the government regulates more of our lives. The real fear some have is that the government will somehow take over too much of our lives and leave us feeling enslaved like others have become around the world. It is important to fight to keep freedom.

But more valuable is the spiritual freedom we have in Christ, although many times we don’t fully understand it. Sometimes, religious leaders and our own mindsets begin to make up rules they say we must follow for God to accept us. Other times, we go in the extreme opposite direction and think we can just live wildly as we please.

In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul fights for our proper understanding of the freedom we have in Christ so that we don’t lose it. By his life, death, and resurrection, Christ has lifted off the burden of our sin so we can be free of its guilt and punishment. He has removed the overbearing pressure of the law from cutting off our right standing with God. He has pulled us away from our sinful, selfish ways and put us on the liberating course of serving God that involves honoring his will and dealing with others in love.

Don’t lose that freedom for yourself, but keep growing in your daily focus on Christ and realize the peace and power that come from being free in Christ.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me freedom in Christ. Help me to use that freedom for good. Help me to glorify your name in all I do and in the life of service that I do for others. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.