A wonderful Wednesday morning to you, my friend! Let us praise our Good God for the day He has given us!
Read Galatians 5:13 – 6:2
Many theologians would take the position that the overarching theme of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians is freedom in Christ Jesus, and that subject is addressed in the opening of today’s reading. But notice carefully how the Believers’ call to liberty through Christ is qualified in the word – not liberty (freedom) that is an opportunity for us to fulfill our fleshly desires. But instead, Christ has given us freedom so that we might love one another, and serve one another! In these times when so many are raising their voices to cry out for liberty and for the protection of their rights, we would do well to remember that true Christ-like freedom comes with a charge, a responsibility to serve and to love others.
And then Paul gives each of us another “freedom lesson” in vv 16: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”. That is, be full of God’s Spirit, embrace all that the Spirit has for you, and be directed by the Spirit; and if you do, you will overcome the works of the flesh. By walking in the Spirit, we can be free of all of the fleshly desires that are detailed in vvs 19 – 21: “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like”. Wow! What a list! My brother, each of us should be constantly praising our Good God for giving us freedom from doing all of these things – what grace He has shown each of us through His Spirit! And before moving from this portion of the scripture, pay close attention to the clear admonition contained in vv 21 for those who continue to indulge in the works of the flesh: “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”.
Next, Paul turns to those things “against which there is no law”, those things that we can freely embrace, and which provide each of us true freedom – namely, the fruit of the Spirit (vv 22 – 23): “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”. Take close note of the last “fruit”, my brother – self-control. Freedom in Christ includes self-control – clearly, this is not freedom in the way the world would define freedom!
And finally, Paul ends today’s passage with a wonderful “freedom exhortation” for every one of us (vv 5:25 – 6:2): “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”.
My brothers, in another (patriotic) context, we often hear the phrase “freedom isn’t free”. And in the Kingdom of God, we are certain that freedom isn’t free! Christ suffered, His blood was shed, and He died so that we could be set free. Let us walk in His freedom, remembering always the price He paid to make us free. Amen!