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Freedom To What?
Brian Mashburn
July 23, 2006
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Freedom To What?
Paul has a word for you...
"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. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Gal 5:13-14)
Paul agrees with Jesus (a smart thing to do), that you were called to free indeed. Then he adds that your freedom is not just from something bad, but to something good. Really, really good.
Imagine with me for a minute that you are completely free from any residual effects of your past. From blame. From impurity. From obligation. From disease, enemies, and pain.
Imagine with me that you are completely free from prejudice. From violence, fear, and guilt. Free from restrictions, burdens, and infirmities. Free from the law, free from concern, free from accusation.
Imagine with me that you were completely free from sin. What would you do with it?
Would you indulge in your own comfort? Would you spend your life trying to protect your freedom? Would you lock yourself up in your house and just "exist" in your freedom and do nothing out of fear of disturbing it?
Seriously, folks, what would you do? If you had TOTAL FREEDOM from sin and it's effects, would you then indulge the sinful nature? Certainly not! Sinning would steal the very freedom that you had from it!
So then. Here is the probing question. After you answer the "what will you do with freedom?" question, would God look at you and say, "Then freedom I give you."
Look back up and what Paul says. Are you using your freedom for that?