Today’s Scripture: Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
James H. McConkey relates an interesting incident which occurred after the American Civil War:
Shortly after the Civil War, a northern woman came to the South to visit some friends. She stopped at a little wayside hotel for entertainment. There she was waited on by a coloured woman who had been a slave. The service was careless, listless, and inattentive. As this went on, the northern woman became nettled. Finally she burst out: ‘Auntie is this the way you treat people who have set you free?’ The woman made no reply but left the room. By and by she returned. Her whole demeanour was changed. Her figure was erect, her eyes were flashing and her voice was full of tears as she cried out with great emotion, “Oh, Missus, is we free? Is we really free?” The Emancipation Proclamation had really set her free. But she was as much a slave as though that document had never been issued, for she had not believed it.
There is nothing as saddening as living hindered when freedom has been given. Christ has set us free, so we ought no longer to live in bondage. However, we cannot appropriate this freedom except we first believe that we have indeed been set free; that the conditions that once held us bound no longer exist. Sin no longer has dominion over us. Sickness cannot hold us down. Fear no longer has a grip over our minds. We have to believe in the reality of our freedom in Christ to walk in its benefits. This requires unlearning the old habits of slavery. It requires, as Paul aptly puts it, presenting our bodies, by the help of the Spirit, to God as instruments of righteousness.
We will never master a life of freedom if we do not make conscious, determined efforts to. Our spirits have been reborn in freedom, but our flesh is still accustomed to its old ways. What do we do? We bring our body in subjection to the Spirit through repeated acts of obedience to the Word, and we renew our minds with the same. So the question today is, what does freedom in Christ really entail? And are you enjoying it? This appraisal is important. We cannot afford to remain in a default mode of slavery. We have been set free, so we must live free. The Lord will guide you along the path of freedom today, and always, in Jesus’ name.
Memorise & Meditate:
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
Prayer & Confession:
Christ has set me free; I am free indeed. Father, grant me the boldness and wisdom to walk in this freedom in Christ Jesus.
