Serve to Stay Free!

"For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Galatians 5:13

This is a very practical warning that Paul is giving to the new believers in the Galatian church.  You see Paul was writing to the Galatians because they were new to the faith, and were being easily swayed by false doctrine from false teachers that were coming into the church.  As new Christians come to the faith they need to be encouraged by more mature men and women in their walk.  This is the entire basis of discipleship, and this is what we are all called to do.  Jesus is recorded in Matthew chapter 28: 18-20, giving us this charge, He says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me; go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."  This is our charge, to be and make disciples, and Jesus is very clear that we are to do this by teaching.  But, we are also called to do this by inviting others into our lives to walk side by side with us, this is how Jesus discipled people.  He invited them to learn from Him by literally walking with them through life.  Once, we are free in Christ from the bondage of our sin, it now becomes tempting to use that freedom 'for the flesh', as the scripture above states.  For those of us in recovery, there is are very common and practical ways this manifests itself oftentimes.  Once we are free from the bondage of our addiction, often, people in recovery, can use this new freedom in Christ to live in the flesh in other areas of life.  Some of the most common are rather than coveting the drug or drink, we can easily move onto things, or people or even sex.  Once we are free from addictions to drugs and alcohol, we can easily be more susceptible to sin in other ways.  It is tempting for us to use our time, money, and resources in ways of the flesh that are not what God would call us to do.  Oftentimes, people in recovery use their money improperly by buying lots of clothes, or shoes, or food.  Sometimes, our new found freedom, leads us to others sins, such as chasing women and sex.  This temptation is the same for all of us that are free in Christ.  And the reason Paul gives the newly free in Christ Galatians this warning is because he knows using your freedom just to do other sinful things, will always lead to coming back around to the original sin because we love it.  And eventually, this will lead to despair.  The way we counter act this is by using our new found freedom in Jesus to serve others with love.  We hold onto the freedom God has given us through Christ by serving others, just as Christ can to serve and give freedom, we are to do exactly the same things.  This is how we keep the freedom that Jesus paid for so much to give us freely.  Has God put something or someone on your heart to serve?  What is holding you back?  We are to serve one another through love, patience, and kindness.  Serving others is the key to keeping yourself free in the Lord!  Today, pray and ask God to lead you in the Holy Spirit to a heart of loving service.  Know that serving one another is the way to true freedom in the Lord!  Love you all!  Praying for you and yours!  Have a blessed day, it's your choice!