Free?

For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another. Galatians 5:13 AMPC

Like the Galatians then, the same message applies now. We are fed the fallacy that being in Christ means we are above every rule and regulation. We take the liberty we have been assured of in Christ and turn it into a license to live as we please. What is the balanced view? I believe that as followers of Christ, what we have been given is the freedom, liberty and grace to choose to follow Christ out of our own free will, free from the shackles of sin brought on by the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, free from the limitations of self and free to follow Christ wherever he leads. That's the definition of freedom from God's perspective.

Every other liberty we enjoy or crave, contrary to God's definition, leads nowhere. As long as the flesh is allowed to thrive, whatever I hold on to isn't freedom as defined by God. If I still pursue my own desires, dreams and goals, I am not truly free. If all I seek is self glory and honour, or the pursuit of my own happiness at the expense of other people, then what I have isn't freedom. Let no man deceive you into thinking that God has called you to a life of ease. Nowhere did God ever promise he would make your life easy; what he has always promised is that no matter what may come, you have life.

In that understanding, I live to impact others. In that understanding, I look beyond what I want to what God wants. I see other people in the light of God's eyes, and seek how I can be a blessing to others. It is never always about money, but about making eternal investments in the lives of others. Investments that will outlive you are worth it, and carry in them the life seed that will continue to bear fruit long after you are gone.

A man who is truly free cares nothing about impressing others. A man who is truly free isn't bothered by what people say. Love is the motivating factor, love is the highest pursuit and love is the foundation of everything s/he touches. Can that be said of me? Can that be said of you? His time of favour is here.