CALLED TO SERVE IN LIBERTY
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a 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.
Galatians 5:1, 13 (NIV)
I grew up thinking Christianity was about following a long list of rules. Do this. Don’t do that. Try harder. Be better. It felt like wearing a heavy backpack that kept getting heavier. When I finally understood that Jesus offered freedom instead of rules, my first thought was Great! Now I can do whatever I want! But that’s not real freedom either. That’s just swapping one kind of slavery for another.
Real freedom is different. Imagine a fish being freed from the river and placed on the grass. That fish is free from water, but it’s not free to be what it was made to be. Christ didn’t set us free from rules just so we could chase every selfish desire. He set us free to finally become who we were created to be.
And what were we created for? To love. To serve. To live like Jesus. This is the beautiful mystery of Christian freedom. We’re most free when we’re serving others in love. Not because we have to, but because we get to. Not to earn God’s favor, but because we already have it.
Using our freedom to serve is how we protect it. If we don’t actively use our liberty to love others, we’ll slowly slip back into slavery. Either slavery to selfishness or slavery to religious rules. Both will crush us. But when we serve one another humbly in love, we experience the joy and purpose we were made for.
APPLICATION: How can you use your freedom to serve someone this week? Maybe it’s helping a neighbor, encouraging a coworker, or putting someone else’s needs before your own. Look for one practical way to serve in love.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for setting me free through Christ. Help me to stand firm in this freedom and not return to any form of slavery. Show me how to use my liberty to serve others in love, just as Jesus served me. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?