Galatians 5:13

If the ditch on one side of true freedom in Christ is LEGALISM (See Yesterday’s devotion), then the ditch on the other side might be called LICENSE! And this may be a bigger danger in our modern secular culture! Many Christians define freedom as the freedom to live however they want to live. The irony of this falsehood is that this mentality simply keeps us enslaved again to the very sinful nature that Christ died to set us free from. The sin nature does not need to be fed, it needs to be starved! We are now alive in Christ and we need to count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God! (See Romans 6:11). Freedom is living out of our new nature. This is the new heart (or disposition) that loves Jesus supremely and desires to honor and serve Him! This is our new identity in Christ and is empowered by the Holy Spirit that indwells us and produces the life of Christ in us as we choose daily to surrender and abide in Christ! The result, or outflow, of daily dying to sin (self) and being filled with the Spirit is that we will be set free to demonstrate our love for God by being radical lovers of others!! We are set free to love one another with Christ’s love! If you think your freedom is for anything else, repent! “Jesus, fill me with your love and then allow that love to pour out of me toward the person who is before me at any given moment. Thank You Jesus! I’m FREE at last! AMEN”

PASSAGE: Galatians 5:13 - "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."

PAUSE: With freedom comes opportunity—the opportunity to live a better life and to have better relationships. In this freedom, we have been called to love and serve one another without guilt and shame! Look for opportunities this week to love and serve those around you. This is what we are called to do!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me see the opportunities to love others that are always around me. Today, I choose love. Help me love others deeply.