Galatians 5 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery...For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you.
One thing that is common to most religious sects is the list; and as long as you keep the list, you are pleasing to the god of the list. You know the list I am talking about; don't touch this, don't say that; don't go here; don't wear that.
The premise is this; the closer you stick to the list, the more acceptable you are to the group and the more you are loved by god. One obvious danger then is that it becomes about us and our abilities to please. Another danger is that less emphasis is placed on our hearts, thoughts and intents and the focus of our being is one of checking off the list each day. As the body becomes enslaved to the burden of the list, the joy is destroyed, the relationship is lost and the heart becomes darkened.
The flip side of this coin might be just as damaging and teaches that God cares not what you do with your body, He only desires your heart allowing liberties to be taken with the flesh. And there is the rub...always the flesh.
If you think about it both of these premises appeal to the flesh. The first gives us a feeling of accomplishment in our own abilities and the second gives us instant gratification of our fleshly desires. Rules to follow or the flesh to indulge.
For freedom Christ has set us free.
Did you know that when He redeemed you from slavery to sin, hell and the grave He also relieved us of the slavery to the list. It is not a group of rules that He wishes for you to follow. It is your heart that He is after and when He owns that, the life will change. It will no longer be a case of what I should, ought and must, it will be a life spread out before Him that follows wherever He leads.
There are boundaries to this freedom that we have in Christ. Like a pendulum that swings both ways, ever straying farther and farther to each side of their center, we must find balance within our walk with the Lord. It is this writers belief that if we stick closer to the man than the list that we will never lose our way, or let others unload burdens onto our backs that we were never meant to bare.
If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. Amen?
Father, I love Your word and Your laws are just. Teach me to balance judgement with mercy. Help me to remember that we are all in different places in our walk with you and that You alone lead us in the paths of righteousness and as long as my life is lived within the context of the Holy Scriptures and led by the Holy Spirit that I need not let lay unecessary burdens on my life. I will look to You Father and release my list into Your hands.
One thing that is common to most religious sects is the list; and as long as you keep the list, you are pleasing to the god of the list. You know the list I am talking about; don't touch this, don't say that; don't go here; don't wear that.
The premise is this; the closer you stick to the list, the more acceptable you are to the group and the more you are loved by god. One obvious danger then is that it becomes about us and our abilities to please. Another danger is that less emphasis is placed on our hearts, thoughts and intents and the focus of our being is one of checking off the list each day. As the body becomes enslaved to the burden of the list, the joy is destroyed, the relationship is lost and the heart becomes darkened.
The flip side of this coin might be just as damaging and teaches that God cares not what you do with your body, He only desires your heart allowing liberties to be taken with the flesh. And there is the rub...always the flesh.
If you think about it both of these premises appeal to the flesh. The first gives us a feeling of accomplishment in our own abilities and the second gives us instant gratification of our fleshly desires. Rules to follow or the flesh to indulge.
For freedom Christ has set us free.
Did you know that when He redeemed you from slavery to sin, hell and the grave He also relieved us of the slavery to the list. It is not a group of rules that He wishes for you to follow. It is your heart that He is after and when He owns that, the life will change. It will no longer be a case of what I should, ought and must, it will be a life spread out before Him that follows wherever He leads.
There are boundaries to this freedom that we have in Christ. Like a pendulum that swings both ways, ever straying farther and farther to each side of their center, we must find balance within our walk with the Lord. It is this writers belief that if we stick closer to the man than the list that we will never lose our way, or let others unload burdens onto our backs that we were never meant to bare.
If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. Amen?
Father, I love Your word and Your laws are just. Teach me to balance judgement with mercy. Help me to remember that we are all in different places in our walk with you and that You alone lead us in the paths of righteousness and as long as my life is lived within the context of the Holy Scriptures and led by the Holy Spirit that I need not let lay unecessary burdens on my life. I will look to You Father and release my list into Your hands.
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