God desires for us to live in freedom. Why else would the anti-Christ spirit be constantly at war with all sorts of freedom. You can often figure out what God desires by what the enemy fights against the most. The Bible also lets us know that freedom is our portion…
For you have been called to live in 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. Galatians 5:13
We’ve been called to live in freedom. He gives freedom freely…but He desires that we would use that freedom to love…wow, this is a very convicting statement.
How do we do this? This next portion describes the “how” of it all…
So, I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. Galatians 5:17-18
Friends, there is no way to live a life of freedom apart from Holy Spirit. The only way to truly deny the sinful cravings, is to walk in the Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom…remember?
Everything about God points us toward freedom. This freedom isn’t meant to cause us to feel a sense of superiority and arrogance…no, that’s the opposite. Our freedom should lead us to have more compassion. It should open the door to mercy. Mercy for the lost, and a hunger for more righteousness.
Look at this final chunk of scripture for today…
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:24-26
The Bible wouldn’t waste time mentioning this if it wasn’t something that God knew we’d struggle with. Let’s face it…the road from God’s grace bursting into our lives to a feeling of conceit, self-righteousness and jealousy is surprisingly short. It’s honestly shocking to me how quickly I see people go from the throne of grace to casting judgment on others struggling with the exact thing they were just freed of…it’s just like the parable of the one who owed a debt he couldn’t pay…him being forgiven the debt and then immediately going out and throwing someone in prison because they owed him money.
This parable is most impactful…because it’s so very true of our nature.
It took a bit for me to realize right after I fully surrendered to God, that I was also doing that. Judging others severely for sins I had recently been redeemed from…oh, how I know that grieves God’s heart…
Lord, forgive me for any time I have judged incorrectly. Help me to walk in Your mercy and grace. Show me the way to love others. I surrender to Your ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
365 Days in the Presence 