“Service to Others”

 

                                

DISCUSSION:  “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to                     

                                         indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Galatians 5. 13-14

 

What is this freedom that Paul warns us not to misuse? Is it the freedom of basic human rights that we enjoy in Western nations? Hardly! There are people in prison as well as in other countries who enjoy the freedom Paul is talking about—it’s the freedom that only the gospel brings, freedom from our slavery to sin and to legalistic moral attitudes.

The Galatians had enjoyed this freedom when they believed the gospel of Christ, but it seemed they were about to be enslaved again by sin and legalism! Freedom is precious. It’s bought with the priceless blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

President Lincoln understood something about the precious value of freedom. Signing the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves in the United States, he made sure his hand was steady before writing his name. Signing firmly, he stated, “I don’t want it to look as if I hesitated.”

The good news of Jesus sets people truly free. It’s the freedom that brings new life and calls us to use it to serve others.

 

Go out today and use your freedom as a Christian to serve others and live a life of humility.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monday

BIBLE READING : Job 3. 1-26 “I wish I had never been born,” Job said to his friends. “I wish that my birthday was just wiped off of the calendar as though it never happened.” Who could blame him? The loss that he had endured in mere moments had been catastrophic. Job had experienced a wonderful life until that day, when all he had known changed. I know that many people have endured tragic losses, but Job’s defeat seems unfathomable. Isn’t it ironic that, although Job’s comments brought him so much pain, they can bring us so much joy? My mother always taught me that, no matter how bad I may think things are, someone else always is suffering more than I am. Not only does that help us to feel that we are not alone in our depression, but it gives us that hope for what is to come. Job’s story helps us to learn to appreciate the blessings that we have today! Job was not in control of his circumstances, but he was in control of his reaction to those circumstances. When Job was hurtin...
Read more

“Examples”

BIBLE READING: Mark 13- Luke 1 DISCUSSION                                                                                   This past week we have read of some great examples in the bible.   We read in Mark 13 about us being ready and being prepared for when Jesus returns.   We need to all stay awake!   In Mark 14 we read of one action having such an impact.   How this woman gave her very best to Jesus because of her love for Him.   In Mark 15 we read of Pontius Pilate and his desire to keep his power.   He loved his power and did not want to give it up even if that meant sending an inno...
Read more

Saturday

Bible Reading: Matthew 18. 21-35 While Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, you know He could hear them coming. In Matthew’s account he says that when they came they brought with them a legion of soldiers, which could have amounted to sex thousand men (Matthew 26.52-53). When they seize Jesus and I think we can use that word loosely, they “bound him” according to John 18.12, and they bound Him” as they sent Him to Caiaphas. Funny isn’t it? They are trying to tie us the hands of the Son of God with mere threads or at the most, weak chains. It is almost laughable for us to try to imagine someone thinking they can limit the ability or suppress the power of the King of Kings with something so small. The strange thing is we can “bind up” the hands of Jesus and limit Him in this world. When Jesus sent to his home town, the Bible says “He did not do many mighty works there, because of their u unbelief” (Matthew 13.58). Was it that He was just weak? No, their unbelief was prevent...
Read more