Free in Christ
This is the time of year when we think about the political freedom the United States has from other nations. We recently celebrated our independence from England. Since that time we have managed to slowly enslave ourselves by giving in to weakness, greed, and refusal to take responsibility.
We should be thankful to God, that we live in a nation that does offer more freedoms that most any other place on earth. But we should be vigilant, lest those freedoms continue to erode. They erode every time a law is passed that moves us from responsible citizen to victim. They erode every time a law is passed because of the bad behavior of a few (or only one). They erode every time we attempt to remove risk because some take advantage and others do not know better. (There will be new laws passed concerning lending and borrowing because of our current housing crisis and they will be restrictive rather than liberating).
But there is a type of freedom that exists in every place, under any government, and cannot be taken away. It is the freedom that we have in Christ to live by the Spirit rather than by the law. Living by the Spirit means that we have allowed God’s will, indeed his presence, to come into our lives and act as our guide. This, along with his written word, the Bible, and the living word, Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the church sets us free from the “law of sin and death.”
Read Galatians 5:1-6:10 every day this week and learn part of what it means to be free in Christ. It does not mean that we do whatever we want. It means that we live a life of holy discipline which sets us free from bondage to weakness, greed, and refusal to take responsibility. It gives us a clear conscience, and the ability to organize our lives so that we can serve others. It makes us free.
This morning we are blessed by lessons from Brother Lamar Matthews. Please welcome him in Lord.
Sean Niestrath
East Main Church of Christ
2528 East Main St. Kalamazoo, MI 49081
